Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq has come under increasing scrutiny following the second Test against England at Lord's, with former Australia opener David Warner questioning why he did not bat despite being seen attempting throwdowns during the match.
Imam suffered a Grade 1 tear in his left calf while fielding on the opening day and did not bat in either innings as Pakistan went on to lose the Test by 194 runs.
The controversy intensified after Imam was seen taking part in a batting session before the fourth day's play, with his calf heavily strapped and the batter appearing to limp.
David Warner Questions Imam's Decision Not to Bat
Warner reacted to footage of Imam attempting throwdowns by posting a short comment on social media.
"Did he come out and bat after all this??" Warner wrote.
The former Australia opener's reaction appeared to question whether Imam could have contributed with the bat despite the injury.
Imam had been advised to rest for around 10 days following the calf injury, according to reports. He attempted a few throwdowns before the start of the fourth day but soon walked away with members of the Pakistan support staff.
The situation has attracted attention because Pakistan were already struggling badly with the bat and were eventually beaten by 194 runs.
Stuart Broad Also Criticised Imam-ul-Haq
Warner was not the first former international player to question Imam's actions.
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad, working as a commentator for Sky Sports, was highly critical after seeing Imam take part in batting practice.
Broad suggested that Imam could have conducted the session privately rather than appearing publicly in shorts with his injured calf taped.
"That's all for show," Broad said, while questioning the purpose of the visible batting session if Imam was not fit enough to bat.
Broad's comments added to the growing criticism surrounding the Pakistan opener, although the fact that Imam was seen attempting throwdowns does not by itself establish that he was fit to play a Test innings.
Imam's Absence Left Pakistan a Batter Short
Imam's injury came at a particularly difficult time for Pakistan.
The visitors' batting had already been a major concern during the England series, with Pakistan struggling to spend sufficient time at the crease against England's pace attack.
Pakistan were bowled out for just 110 in their first innings at Lord's, giving England a substantial advantage. Their inability to field a full batting line-up then became even more significant as the Test progressed.
Pakistan eventually suffered another heavy defeat and surrendered the three-match series with one Test still remaining.
The team will now have to deal with questions over its batting options as it prepares for the final Test at Edgbaston.
Previous Injury Controversy Has Also Resurfaced
The latest incident has also brought an earlier controversy involving Imam back into the spotlight.
According to a News18 report citing Geo.tv, a PCB committee investigated an incident involving Imam during Pakistan's 2025 tour of New Zealand.
The report claimed Imam had said he was suffering from a toe injury, but the committee allegedly found no medical evidence supporting the claim. An X-ray reportedly showed neither a fracture nor a dislocation.
The committee was subsequently said to have concluded that Imam had misrepresented his injury and recommended a ban on him representing Pakistan across formats and levels.
Those claims relate to a reported PCB inquiry and should not be treated as confirmation of a current ban against Imam.
However, the resurfacing of the earlier episode has added another layer to the scrutiny surrounding his latest injury.
Another Inquiry Could Follow
With questions now being raised over the circumstances of Imam's calf injury, the latest incident could potentially lead to another inquiry.
The key issue is not whether Imam suffered an injury. Pakistan's team management confirmed that he sustained a Grade 1 tear in his left calf while fielding during England's first innings.
Instead, the debate centres on the severity of the injury and whether Imam was capable of batting despite the problem.
His decision not to bat in either innings, followed by his appearance during a batting session, has created an awkward situation for Pakistan.
Imam Reportedly Unlikely to Play the Final Test
The controversy comes as Pakistan prepare for the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston, starting on September 9.
Reports have suggested that Imam is unlikely to feature in the final match and could be sent back home as Pakistan consider changes following their series defeat.
There has also been speculation over the future of Mohammad Rizwan after his poor run with the bat, although there was no official confirmation of either player's departure at the time of the reports.
For Imam, the immediate priority remains his recovery from the calf injury. But after criticism from Stuart Broad, questions from David Warner and renewed attention on the reported 2025 PCB inquiry, the Pakistan opener now finds himself under considerable scrutiny.
Pakistan will hope the controversy does not further distract from the much bigger problem facing them: finding a way to repair a batting line-up that has struggled throughout the England series.
