Pakistan Opener Stuns Fans with Unusual Run-Out, Ruining Promising Start Against India

Pakistan opener Imam ul-Haq has left analysts perplexed with his questionable decision-making, resulting in a disastrous run-out against India during the Champions Trophy.

Held in Dubai amid heightened tensions between the two nations, Pakistan’s captain Muhammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bat first.

Fellow opener Babar Azam appeared poised for a characteristic innings but fell victim to a catch behind for 23 runs.

His dismissal came at a score of 41 runs for the loss of one wicket in the 9th over, and just one over later, ul-Haq too would make an exit.

The 29-year-old had managed just 10 runs off 25 deliveries and appeared to be feeling the strain, even as his team maintained a scoring rate exceeding five runs an over.

As Kuldeep Yadav bowled, ul-Haq struck the ball directly to Axar Patel at mid-off, who executed a brilliant throw to the stumps.

Replays indicated ul-Haq was significantly short of the crease when the bails were dislodged.

“At this moment, every Pakistan fan would be scratching their head thinking, ‘what just happened there?’,” commented Harsha Bhogle during Amazon Prime’s broadcast.

“A rather peculiar run,” he added.

The criticism for ul-Haq continued, with Pakistani cricketing legend Wasim Akram branding it a “suicide run” and emphasising that “it was entirely unnecessary”.

Ravi Shastri also did not hold back his words.

“A wasted wicket, there was never a single to be had,” he stated.

Shastri further noted that ul-Haq has been run out six times since his debut, the highest number for any current Pakistan player. However, the all-time record belongs to his uncle Inzamam, who suffered 40 run-outs in his ODI career.