Imam-ul-Haq’s injury claims under scrutiny again

A past inquiry report has resurfaced following Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq’s latest injury during the team’s tour of England, raising questions over the nature of his current fitness issue.

Sources said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to investigate Imam-ul-Haq’s latest injury once again because of the controversy surrounding a previous incident.

According to sources, a PCB inquiry committee had held Imam-ul-Haq responsible for allegedly faking an injury during Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in March 2025.

On March 28, 2025, Imam was struck on the right big toe by a ball during an indoor net session. An X-ray reportedly showed no fracture or displacement of the bone.

Despite medical advice, Imam allegedly walked around 500 metres to attend an iftar gathering. He later complained of severe pain and said his toe had turned black.

Sources said the team doctor cleaned the toe with a special chemical-based paper, after which the black mark disappeared. The inquiry committee reportedly concluded that the substance removed from the toe was not natural blood but ink or marker.

Imam denied using ink or any artificial substance on his toe before the inquiry committee. However, the committee reportedly found his explanation inconsistent with the medical evidence, X-ray results and the appearance of his toe.

Team officials also claimed that Imam was seen limping while under observation but walked normally when he was out of their sight.

The inquiry committee unanimously concluded that there was no medical basis for declaring Imam unfit for Pakistan’s first ODI against New Zealand.

The committee held him responsible for allegedly fabricating, exaggerating and misrepresenting symptoms of an injury, while also misleading medical staff. It concluded that Imam had deliberately attempted to make himself unavailable for the first ODI against New Zealand.