KARACHI: Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq looked contented for playing an impactful role in the team’s victory despite falling prey to nervous nineties in the third PAK vs NZ ODI series on Wednesday.
Imam scored 90 from 107 balls to help the Green Shirts beat New Zealand by 26 runs here at National Bank Cricket Arena and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-game series.
“I am happy that our team have won today and I played my part in it, though every batsman feels a little bit disappointed when he gets out on the nineties,” he said in a post-match press conference.
Revealing that he was upset for missing out on his 10th ODI hundred, the left-hander claimed the situation required him to play his shots freely and not to slow down.
“I was acting according to the team’s plans because we wanted to get to 290 or 300.”
When asked about his on-field chemistry with skipper Babar Azam since the two gathered their ninth centurion stand in yesterday’s match, Imam replied, “It is because we both are playing together for so long and batted through every thick and thin.”
He, however, revealed that Babar and his opening partner Fakhar Zaman have very contrasting traits, and he enjoyed batting with both of them.
“Fakhar does not speak a lot and Babar does not remain quiet for long. It is fun batting with both of them because Babar is a good friend of mine and Fakhar has been batting with me since our time in domestic cricket.”
With ICC ODI World Cup in sight, Imam believed it was not appropriate to experiment with the team at this stage and has shunned the idea of including hard-hitters, Iftikhar Ahmed or Mohammad Haris, in the lower middle order.
“If I tell you honestly, I don’t think so, because we don’t have time to do experiments, and with Agha [Salman], Shadab [Khan] and [Mohammad] Nawaz, we have enough power-hitting in our ranks. We just need to give them confidence. Sometimes it is very different to come at number five or six and play only six or seven overs,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention Pakistan will play the last two matches against the visitors at the same venue on May 5 and 7.
READ: Huraira, Omair ton put Pakistan Shaheens in command on opening day