Imam, Rizwan shine on return to domestic cricket
Both were among seven players sent home midway through Pakistan’s troubled England tour following the Lord’s Test
Zaid Hassan
Producer
Zaid Hassan, a seasoned sports journalist, led Cricket Pakistan as editor for four years, shaping its coverage with insightful analysis. Now a producer at Nukta, he expands into broader storytelling while remaining a key voice in Pakistan’s sports media.
Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) captain Imam-ul-Haq pose after scoring a century against Ghani on Tuesday in Lahore.
PCB
Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan made immediate impacts with the bat as they returned to domestic cricket in the President’s Trophy on Monday.
While Imam guided Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) into a commanding position against Ghani with an unbeaten century, Rizwan fought a lone battle for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL).
How did Imam-ul-Haq lead OGDCL’s batting?
Imam delivered a composed innings of 118 not out from 196 balls, striking 11 boundaries to help OGDCL reach 277-3 at stumps in reply to Ghani’s first-innings total of 232.
Opening the innings, the left-handed batter established a solid foundation alongside Ali Asif, who contributed 42 runs in an 88-run stand for the first wicket.
Imam then combined with Saad Khan to take control of the contest, building a substantial 173-run partnership for the second wicket. Saad fell for 88, but Imam remained unbeaten to complete his 17th first-class century and put OGDCL firmly in the driving seat.
Why was Rizwan’s contribution not enough for SNGPL?
Rizwan emerged as SNGPL’s leading run-scorer against KRL, but his efforts could not prevent his side from being bowled out for 195.
The wicketkeeper-batter struck 64 off 81 deliveries, including 10 fours, before Muhammad Danial Ali Khan dismissed him. His innings stood out in an otherwise disappointing batting display from SNGPL.
Why were both players returning to domestic cricket?
The match marked the return of Imam and Rizwan after they received permission to represent their respective teams amid an ongoing investigation by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Both were among seven players sent home midway through Pakistan’s troubled England tour following the Lord’s Test.
Rizwan had endured a difficult run during the series and faced criticism over his dismissal in the second Test. Imam also came under scrutiny after opting not to bat in either innings because of a grade-one tear in his left calf.
PCB chief selector and director of high-performance Aaqib Javed publicly questioned Imam’s injury and warned that an inquiry could follow. Their performances in the President’s Trophy therefore marked an important return to competitive cricket amid the controversy.
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