Former Australia batter David Warner has also joined ex-England pacer Stuart Broad in questioning Imam-ul-Haq’s absence from Lord’s Test due to an injury.
Imam sustained a strain to his left calf while fielding on the opening day of the Test on Thursday and was subsequently replaced in the field by Salman Ali Agha.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later confirmed that scans revealed a low-grade calf strain, and Imam received treatment from the team’s medical staff.
However, the opener did not bat in either innings as Pakistan suffered a heavy 194-run defeat on Sunday, conceding an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
During the pre-match analysis on day four, Imam was seen training in shorts, with medical tape around his injured leg, and appeared to be limping.
Warner took to X and probed whether Imam came out to bat while referring to his training video.
“Did he come out and bat after all this?” he questioned.
He later explained why he was asking, mentioning off-spinner Nathan Lyon’s calf injury.
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“I remember Nathan Lyon batting at Lord’s with a 16cm tear in his calf and on crutches. This is why I ask the question,” he said.
Besides Warner, ex-England pacer Stuart Broad also took a dig at Imam.
The former England pacer questioned why Imam needed to make his rehabilitation so visible, arguing that he could have completed his recovery work away from public view.
Broad suggested the display was unnecessary, particularly given the criticism Imam had received over his absence.
“That’s all for show. He’s had a bit of stick from the media, maybe teammates, whatever. You can do that in an indoor school without anyone seeing,” Broad said.
“You don’t have to wear shorts and a bit of tape and hobble around like that. I’m sorry, I’m not that impressed with that.”
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