Despite the loss of Babar Azam’s wicket, Pakistan had enjoyed the better of the first Powerplay in the high-profile Champions Trophy clash against India in Dubai. That was when Imam-ul-Haq decided to take on Axar Patel’s arm at mid-on in pursuit of a suicidal run. Axar’s throw was unerring, and Imam was well short of his crease.
It was his sixth run-out dismissal in 73 ODIs, and prompted Ravi Shastri, on commentary for Star Sports, to ask if it ‘ran in the family genes’. Imam’s uncle, Inzamam-ul-Haq, is widely considered one of the greatest batters in Pakistan cricket history, having played a pivotal role in their World Cup win in 1992.
Inzamam was also a notoriously poor runner between wickets. While Wasim Akram deflected Shastri’s question by saying ‘Inzi would be upset’, the numbers speak for themselves. In 120 Tests, Inzamam was run out six times, a fairly unremarkable stat. But in the 50-over format, he was caught short of the crease an astonishing 40 times in 378 matches.
To put that into perspective, Inzamam was run out more than he was bowled or leg before wicket. In fact, even before his dazzling 37-ball 60 helped Pakistan win the 1992 semi-final against New Zealand, he was catapulted into the public eye by a run-out. In a group game at the Gabba in Brisbane, it was a stunned Inzamam who was the victim as the unknown Jonty Rhodes sprinted in from point, picked up the ball and flew like Superman to knock down the stumps – a passage of play responsible for one of the most iconic sports photographs of all time.
Even in the semi-final win that made him a hero back home in Pakistan, Inzamam was run out, caught short by Chris Harris’s underarm throw from short extra-cover.
Of his 40 run-out dismissals in ODIs, six were against India. There was one in Sharjah (1999) and another in Abu Dhabi (2006). With Imam’s dismissal at the Dubai International Stadium, the family now has the dubious distinction of a run-out at each major UAE venue.
Imam 6 times in 73 ODIs, not once in 24 Tests.
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