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LAHORE: Pakistan opening batter Imam-ul-Haq opened up about the missing ingredient in his batting after marking his return to the Test side with a composed knock against South Africa here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Imam made 93 from 153 balls and missed out on his fourth hundred in the format, ending his two-year absence in style.
The southpaw built a monumental 161* run stand with skipper Shan Masood after Abdullah Shafique fell on the third ball of the match.
His innings was laced with seven fours and a six. The 29-year-old was eventually removed before tea by Senuran Muthusamy.
After the opening day, Imam expressed disappointment at missing out on his ton while reflecting on his partnership with Shan Masood.
“I’m disappointed to have missed the century, but that’s part of the game,” he said.
There’s no scripted plan in cricket. In the first 8-10 overs, I took my time, but when the spinners came in, the roles reversed — Shan became more aggressive and I settled in. We didn’t plan it that way, but our partnership helped us reach a good total in the end,” he added.
He praised South Africa for fighting back following a lean opening session. The Proteas at one stage reduce the home side from 199-2 to 199-5. However, Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan’s unbroken stand finished the day on a strong note.
Regarding his comeback, the opener emphasized his domestic form and said that he is not worried about his place in the team.
“Our position is good overall. South Africa made a strong fightback. Rizwan and Agha had a fantastic partnership. I always try to perform in a way that contributes to the team’s victory. Being in and out of the team is part of the game — I don’t fear it,” he explained.
He also highlighted the missing element in his batting, emphasizing the importance of big scores to attract more attention.
“I felt there was a missing element in my batting — whether in one-day cricket, four-day cricket, or any format. So I’ve worked on how to play match-winning innings for Pakistan.”
“Sometimes small things get overlooked; like today, if I had scored 93 or 150, people see it differently and the performance gets highlighted more. We are working on that process, and it will continue,” he concluded.
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