After a strange injury to opener Imam-ul-Haq, Pakistan were forced to use a concussion substitute for the second match in a row.
In the third over of Pakistan’s innings, Imam faced a short-of-a-length delivery around off from Will O’Rourke, playing it with soft hands before setting off for a single. However, a throw to the non-striker’s end made its way through the gap between his face and his helmet grill, and the ball was stuck there. After completing the single, the opener removed his helmet and sat down on the pitch.
3rd ODI, New Zealand vs Pakistan
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Imam appeared to be in serious discomfort, writhing in pain while holding his injured jaw. Upon observation, the physio called a stretcher in. While Imam managed to leave the ground sitting on the medicab, his expressions didn’t look promising. He retired hurt for a seven-ball one, with Babar Azam walking in at No.3.
Usman Khan replaces Imam-ul-Haq as concussion substitute
Pakistan subsequently named Usman Khan as Imam-ul-Haq's concussion substitute for the remainder of the match. The series has seen a revolving door between the two openers - Usman made his debut in the first ODI when Imam was sidelined with a right big toe injury, only to miss the second game himself with a hamstring strain sustained while fielding in the opener.
Notably, Pakistan have struggled against O’Rourke throughout this series. This marks the second consecutive ODI where they’ve needed a concussion substitute. In the previous match, while chasing 293, Haris Rauf was struck on the helmet by a fierce bouncer from the New Zealand quick. His concussion substitute, Naseem Shah, impressed with a maiden ODI fifty – though it came in a losing cause.
In the rain-reduced 42-overs-per-side match, New Zealand posted 264-8 thanks to solid contributions from opener Rhys Mariu (58) and captain Michael Bracewell (59). Pakistan's chase was anchored by Babar Azam's half-century before his dismissal left them at 108-3 after 23.4 overs.
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