Imam-ul-Haq Stretchered Off After Nasty Blow to Jaw During Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI

Sadly, in the middle of the action of the 3rd and final ODI match of the series between Pakistan and New Zealand at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, Imam ul Haq was hit on the jaw and suffered a painful injury. This happened when Pakistan was chasing a total of 265 runs put on the board by New Zealand.

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 Pakistani opener Imam was trying to sneak in a quick single when a throw from one of the New Zealand fielders hit him smack in the face. The ball hit his helmet grille and rounded off directly on the jaw, causing him immense pain. The on-field medical staff quickly moved to assist him and, after a little check, Imam ruptured the stretcher and was taken via buggy ambulance for scans.

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As has been documented, Imam got a concussion test done a while later and unfortunately did not pass. This meant that as a result he needed to come off the field, and so batter Usman Khan came in for him as a concussion substitute. At the moment Imam is in the medical tent and being treated. While not formally issued with a transfer to the hospital, it's a possibility depending on his further examinations.

 Watch: Pakistan’s Imam ul Haq retired hurt

Imam ul Haq retired hurt#PAKvNZ #PakistanCricket #Cricket pic.twitter.com/ulUYUzrPtx

— Urooj Jawed🇵🇰 (@uroojjawed12) April 5, 2025

This incident highlights the risks involved in the game, particularly during tight run situations, and the importance of proper protective gear. Fans and fellow cricketers have taken to social media to send prayers and wish Imam-ul-Haq a speedy recovery.

India Vs Pakistan is the biggest rivalry in cricketing history which consists of high-quality competitiveness and high-voltage drama. The match is played between 11 players but the stake is held between two countries. Already Yesterday we saw the best encounter between England Vs Australia which was a really high-scoring match where 600 above runs were scored. 
Australia opted to field first and within the first innings it seemed it would backfire them where England mounted a mammoth score of 350 plus with Ben Duckett scoring 150 plus runs. It seemed that Australia was done and dusted but, Australia is Australia they are always the champion side. With the help of Inglis century Australia chased the biggest target of ODI history. 
Rivalry In the Champions Trophy
India and Pakistan have played many bilateral series, Test Series and World Cups too. But in the Champions Trophy edition, they first met in 2004 which was a great high-voltage match. Pakistan posted 246/9, and India fell short, scoring 226.
2009 Champions Trophy
India lost the match while chasing the tough total, till the end Pakistan Bowlers held their nerves and delivered the plans perfectly. 
Read More: Spiking Rivalry Between Australia And England
2013 Champions Trophy
In this edition of the Champions Trophy India played Pakistan in Group Stages where Dhoni's men gave a clinical finish and ended Pakistan's dominance and won that edition too. 
2017 Champions Trophy
In the 2017 Champions Trophy India dominated them once in the group stages and won the match convincingly. But at the end of the final between these two teams Pakistan had the upper hand and won the final of that edition. 
Well for the time being it is Pakistan who has the advantage over these giant teams will it remain or change would be found within a few hours being. 
The Next Dawn Of Clash
Once again these teams are going to clash today after 8 years in the Champions Trophy due to COVID-19 restrictions Champions Trophy was upheld for tenure. Champions Pakistan have started their campaign with a loss against New Zealand that too in front of their home crowd. On the other hand, India started their campaign by beating Bangladesh. 
India has decided not to travel to Pakistan due to security reasons so the ongoing match between India and Pakistan commences in Dubai. The toss has been put up in Dubai where Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has won the toss and elected to bat first. Due to an injury claim for Fakhar Zaman, Imam Ul Haq has been replaced. India had played one game here so they know the condition very well and may have a slight advantage. It's going to be a crunch encounter between these two teams. 

Hosts and defending champions Pakistan had a tough outing in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand, and the situation has become tougher for them as the dependable and powerful opening batter Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out from the tournament. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also announced the replacement.

Fakhar Zaman was injured on the second ball of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

On the second ball of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan cricketer Fakhar Zaman, who was the hero for Pakistan in the Final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 against India to lift the trophy for the first time, was injured while saving a boundary. After returning the ball to the closest fielder, Fakhar signaled for medical attention as he quickly went off the field. He missed the game for more than two hours before returning to the field in the late moment of the New Zealand innings. As a result, he couldn't come to bat for the first 25 minutes of Pakistan's innings.

Fakhar ultimately came to bat after the first powerplay, while the hosts lost the first two wickets. Chasing the 321-run target against New Zealand, Fakhar was struggling to run and mostly dealing with the boundaries. He scored 24 off 41 balls with four fours before losing his wicket. Pakistan lost the game by 60 runs. 

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Imam-ul-Haq replaced Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar has suffered an oblique injury, and he has been ruled out of the remainder of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB has named Imam-ul-Haq as the replacement for the Pakistan opener. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved this replacement.

Fakhar and Imam were once the opening partners for the national team. The 29-year-old Imam-ul-Haq played his last international match in December 2023 when Pakistan faced the hosts Australia in the 2023 Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. The left-handed batter's last ODI was against South Africa in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. 

Pakistan lost the key wicket of half centurion Imam-ul-Haq late on the third day to give England renewed hope in the second cricket test on Sunday. Pakistan finished the day on 198-4. Needs a further 157 to deny England a second successive victory in the three-match series.

England, which held a 79-run first-innings lead, had set up another imposing target of 355 runs. A deteriorating Multan Cricket Stadium wicket after it was bowled out for 275 in its second innings. The tourists had already successfully defended 342 runs. On a flat wicket in the first test to clinch a 74-run win at Rawalpindi in England’s first test in Pakistan for 17 years.

Solid stuff in the final session 👏

All to play for on Day Four.#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/r5xL4zvpBJ

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 11, 2022

The lefthanded pair of Imam, who made 60, and Saud Shakeel (54 not out) had thwarted England seam and spin for just over 2-1/2 hours. Shared a 108-run stand before Imam played a lose drive against Jack Leach. The lefthander put his head down in despair before leaving the field as Leach provided the much-needed breakthrough.

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Both lefthanded batters showed grit and determination and used their feet well against England’s spinners until Imam’s miscue. England had earlier missed an opportunity to dismiss Imam soon after he completed his half-century. Television replays showed a tiny spike on Imam’s bat when he tried to glance Mark Wood down the legside delivery. However, captain Ben Stokes didn’t go for the referral.

Third fifty in four innings – @saudshak shows his class once again 🌟#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/iUUvvh4loG

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 11, 2022

James Anderson, OIlie Robinson and Wood had baffled Pakistan with a superb display of seam and swing bowling in the middle session. Claiming three wickets for 17 runs before Imam and Shakeel dug in and took Pakistan to 136-3 at tea.