Pakistan star batter accused of 'faking injuries' by former chief selector during England Test series

Pakistan star batter accused of 'faking injuries' by former chief selector during England Test series originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Former chief selector of Pakistan Mohammad Wasim accused Imam-ul-Haq of faking injuries, citing a 2022 warning from a physio.

Imam sat out the first innings of the 2026 Lord's Test after PCB confirmed a low-grade calf strain via scans.

Pakistan collapsed for just 110 in their first innings, leaving England with a commanding 180-run lead.

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Explosive allegation at Lord's! Mohammad Wasim accuses Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq of faking calf injury in England

Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq has been thrown under the bus by former chief selector Mohammad Wasim, who made a striking allegation about the batter's injury history, amid questions over his latest fitness setback during the Lord's Test.

Imam picked up a left calf strain while fielding on the opening day of the second Test at Lord's, forcing him off the field during Thursday's evening session. The Pakistan Cricket Board later confirmed the extent of the injury through a statement.

"Scans later confirmed a low-grade calf strain and Imam is currently receiving treatment under the supervision of the Pakistan medical team," the PCB said. "His participation in the remainder of the Test depends on treatment leading to recovery."

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Imam had opened alongside young Azan Awais in the series opener at Leeds. It was a Test that Pakistan went on to lose heavily by an innings inside just three days.

His absence for the remainder of the Lord's Test left Pakistan without one of their most experienced batters at the top of the order, and it was a blow at an already difficult moment for the touring side.

Amid the batting crisis, Wasim has claimed that Imam has a pattern of using injuries as an excuse to sit out matches.

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"In 2022 Multan test, the physio warned me in advance that he is going to fake an injury soon. And he did that," he said.

How badly did Pakistan struggle at Lord's?

Imam's injury was far from Pakistan's only problem in this match. England bowled them out for a mere 110, to seize a commanding 180-run first-innings lead.

Ollie Robinson led the way with figures of 4 for 11 from 13 overs, including six maidens. Jofra Archer chipped in with 3 for 26 from 11.2 overs, Josh Tongue picked up two wickets, but Gus Atkinson went wicketless.

Pakistan's innings folded in just 37.2 overs, coming barely a few hours after England themselves had been dismissed for 290. By the close of the second day, England had extended their overall lead to 261 runs, reaching 81 for 3 in their second innings before bad light forced an early finish.

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Wasim's claims deserve to be studied with more seriousness

Wasim's allegation is serious, especially against a current international player, without any evidence beyond his own recollection of a private conversation from years ago.

Making such a claim mid-series, right as Imam is dealing with a medically confirmed injury, risks looking less like concern and more like an attempt to score points or deflect from Pakistan's broader struggles on this tour.

That said, questions about player fitness and injury management aren't inherently unfair territory for a former selector to raise, particularly if he believes there's a pattern worth flagging. The problem here is timing and proof.

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Throwing around unverified accusations while a player is actively receiving treatment for a scan-confirmed injury undermines both the credibility of the claim and the player's reputation simultaneously, regardless of whether there's any truth buried in it.

Pakistan cricket already has enough on its plate, given its batting collapse against England. Adding unproven personal accusations into that mix only distracts from the real, structural problems, poor form, fragile technique, and inconsistent team management that actually need addressing.

If Wasim has evidence supporting his claim, it deserves a proper, formal review rather than a passing remark in a media interview.

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