Imamul Haq vows no World Cup let-up from Pakistan

Published July 4, 2019
Imamul Haq in action during the first of a 5 match ODI series cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, on July 13, 2018. — AFP/File
Imamul Haq in action during the first of a 5 match ODI series cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, on July 13, 2018. — AFP/File

Imamul Haq says Pakistan will go all out against Bangladesh on Friday even if they have no realistic chance of reaching the World Cup semi-finals.

Victory for New Zealand against England on Wednesday would have left the door open for Pakistan to seal a place in the last four if they win their final group match.

But a win for the tournament hosts has all but ended the 1992 champions' chances of reaching the last four — England would be out of reach on 12 points while New Zealand have a far-superior net run rate to Pakistan so would likely progress even if the two teams finished level on 11 points.

Imam said there was no despondency in the Pakistan camp despite the difficult situation.

“We are not thinking on the lines of not reaching semi-finals,” said Imam.

“Our plan is to play the semi-final with an all-out effort and at the end if that doesn't happen then we have to play positive cricket and end on a high.”

Pakistan won just one of their first five World Cup matches but bounced back strongly with victories against South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan to give themselves a shot at reaching the semi-finals.

Imam said the 41-run defeat against defending champions Australia earlier in the competition was painful.

“I think the Australia defeat hurts me a lot. I was set and playing well. I should have won that match for Pakistan,” said Imam.

“We lost four quick wickets and I think I should have won that game and we would have beaten a big team in the World Cup.”

Imam, who scored his only fifty of the tournament in that match, said he was disappointed with his batting during the tournament.

“I think what expectations I had from myself I could not do like that,” said Imam, who has so far scored 205 in seven innings.

“I had starts but couldn't score big.

“I am very young so I have learned a lot in this World Cup. What mistakes I have committed, I have learned from them and I am sure that will help me,” said the 23-year-old.

Opinion

Editorial

UAE’s Opec exit
Updated 30 Apr, 2026

UAE’s Opec exit

THE UAE’s exit from Opec is another sign of the major geopolitical shifts that are reshaping the global order. One...
Uncertain recovery
30 Apr, 2026

Uncertain recovery

PAKISTAN’S growth projections for the current fiscal present a cautiously hopeful picture, though geopolitical...
Police ‘encounters’
30 Apr, 2026

Police ‘encounters’

THE killing of nine suspects by Punjab’s Crime Control Department across Lahore, Sahiwal and Toba Tek Singh ...
Growth to stability
Updated 29 Apr, 2026

Growth to stability

THE State Bank’s decision to raise its key policy rate by 100 basis points to 11.5pc signals a shift in priorities...
Constitutional order
29 Apr, 2026

Constitutional order

FOLLOWING the passage of the 26th and 27th Amendments, in 2024 and 2025 respectively, jurists and members of the...
Protecting childhood
29 Apr, 2026

Protecting childhood

AN important victory for child protection was secured on Monday with the Punjab Assembly’s passage of the Child...