Taha Hashim was in Rawalpindi to witness Imam-ul-Haq’s maiden Test century as Australia made their long-awaited return to Pakistan.
Understandably, there was a focus on the bigger picture before play got underway at Rawalpindi today. An hour before the toss, the chief execs of the ICC, PCB, CA and ACA – all the big dogs – lined up to speak to the press, underlining the importance of Australia’s long-awaited return to the country. “Pakistani fans have waited for 24 years to see a strong Australian side play in Pakistan,” said the PCB’s Faisal Hasnain. “And their wishes will – very, very shortly – be fulfilled.”
Hasnain’s words captured the essence of the build-up that surrounded the series. The technicalities of the contest, between two impressive sides – one at the top of the Test rankings, the other with seven wins in their last eight – lagged behind in the running order. The individuals and various other sub-plots had been told to sit in the corner while History took the mic.
The return of Imam-ul-Haq, consequently, was a storyline that had the potential to go somewhat unnoticed, a minor footnote in what was always going to be a momentous occasion. Taking the opening spot left vacant by the absence of Abid Ali, the day marked Imam’s first at Test level since December 2019, and such is the nature of the job, it could have ended quickly. Perhaps a faint edge off Starc, maybe one through the gate from Hazlewood. That’s just how the job works sometimes. But once in a while, that golden day comes along, that one that makes it all worthwhile. Instead of an early farewell, Imam-ul-Haq finished proceedings with a maiden Test century and the adulation of the Pindi crowd; a historic day for the game in Pakistan was also the finest of the 26-year-old’s red-ball career so far.
He took his time to begin with. Those early exchanges were all about keeping it tight, and while Starc managed to strike the pad in the fifth over, the Australian review failed. Soon enough it became pretty apparent where power lay in this duel: the deck was flat and Australia had picked just one frontline tweaker on a pitch with no help for their quicks. Right then, Pakistan, off you go.
A dance-down six off Lyon by Abdullah Shafique was the first explosive moment of the hosts’ innings and Imam decided he was going to use his feet too, advancing to loft a ball from the offie down the ground for four to move into the twenties. The left-hander seized upon the part-time treats of Travis Head – turn away from the blade from both ends proved no issue. Operating throughout the innings was a bat face that seemed to grow wider and wider with each forward-defence to Lyon’s floated tempters. When the moment came to attack, the feet moved with a flourish for the big and straight hit.
Against pace, the highlights came later on. On 79, a new Test-best already secured, Imam served up a leg-side whip off Starc and followed it up immediately with the shot of the day, a drive through the covers that moved him even closer to that much-coveted ton. Here, with something special up for grabs, there must have been nerves. You could see it with a punch of the bat on 97 after he’d wafted at a ball that was way out of reach, that feeling of being just one shot away from history perhaps weighing on a batter who’d kept his focus for most of the day.
It took a while to get there. He spent 39 deliveries in the nineties, but another shot through the covers off Starc returned a special moment. The leap for joy would’ve got top marks from David Warner, and a bear hug with Azhar Ali was the cherry. From there, the concentration didn’t drop. He batted and batted, went inside-out over cover off Lyon and ended unbeaten on 132, 15 fours in the bag alongside a couple of sixes.
His side are in control at 245-1, but it’s the personal tale of glory that’s hard to ignore. Imam has been around for quite some time and excelled in a Pakistan shirt; when it comes to ODIs, he averages just under 50 with seven tons after 46 matches. But Test cricket was proving to be a more difficult task, and his first 11 matches brought 485 runs at an average of 25.52. Throw in having to battle accusations of nepotism – he is the nephew of Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was Pakistan’s chief selector when Imam made his debut – and the story reveals itself to be one that’s never been straightforward. Even in his post-day presser, after his big moment, he was asked about his famous uncle. That shadow will always be there.
Today, however, Imam managed to break out and take the spotlight. With play finally underway in this series, the talk is going to move away from history to what’s happening right there in front of our eyes. Today, Imam was right in front of us. And he didn’t disappoint.
