Imam-ul-Haq scored a superb century on debut helping Pakistan get a seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi to win the one-day international series with two matches to spare.
Imam, who is the nephew of former captain and current chairman of selectors Inzamam-ul-Haq, scored 100 off 125 balls after Sri Lanka collapsed from 102-1 to 208 all out on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old, preferred to Ahmed Shehzad, was given reprieves by Niroshan Dickwella on 29 and 89 and took advantage to get to his hundred.
Imam eased the nerves early in Pakistan’s run chase with back-to-back boundaries off Lahiru Gamage and struck the same bowler for six over backward point before Dickwella put the left-hander down after he feathered Akila Dananjaya behind.
The composed Imam reached his half-century off 67 balls and continued to look comfortable before trudging off in fury after edging Dushmantha Chameera behind 11 short of a hundred, only to be called back as Dickwella failed to take the catch cleanly.
Imam cashed in by becoming only the second Pakistan player to score a century on his ODI debut with a pull to square leg for a single but was finally caught by Dickwella off Perera two balls later, so it was left to Mohammad Hafeez (34 not out) to score the winning runs with 45 balls to spare.
A couple of weeks back, the selection of Imam-ul-Haq to the national squad has caused a little controversy.
"Look, you have to notice the talent and what he can do. His performance was good in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Then he scored two hundreds for the Under-23 team in the triangular tournament in Bangladesh. He scored a hundred in Sialkot. Even Mickey (Arthur) and Sarfraz (Ahmed) gave (their) opinions. We all consult each other," Inzamam had said, defending the selection of his nephew.
But now Imam then chose the best way to silence the critics, coming up with an excellent performance on debut.
And the comparisons are own:
When asked if he felt any pressure playing for Pakistan considering his relationship with the chief selector Inzamam, the youngster said it didn't make much difference as long as he came up with telling performances.
"It's not my fault that I am his nephew. I can't help that. I am not answerable to that. The best I can do is to answer with my bat. I will have failures and every player has that failure," added Imam.
