Imam-ul-Haq unlikely to play again at Lord's after left calf strain

Imam-ul-Haq is unlikely to play any further part in Pakistan’s Lord’s Test against England after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 tear in his left calf. He has been advised to rest for 10 days. He underwent scans at the end of the first day’s play, which revealed the extent of the injury.

Imam had already been forced off the field during the evening session on day one. He did not come out to bat when Pakistan's first innings began on day two, with Salman Agha taking the field as his substitute. Pakistan were bowled out for 110 in reply to England's first-innings total of 290, leaving the hosts in a commanding position as the match progressed.

The PCB's official communication confirmed a low-grade calf strain and made clear that the medical panel would assess Imam's progress before any decision on his participation was finalised. The board offered no specific recovery timeline, and team management responses to questions about his status were cautious.

"I wouldn't be able to tell you anything about it. I am aware of his status, but the team's medical panel is better placed to answer you better," said Mohammad Ali as quoted by Cricinfo.

Mohammad Ali backs Pakistan despite 357-run deficit

The injury adds to a difficult series for Imam. In the first Test at Headingley, he scored 42 runs in the first innings and shared a 91-run third-wicket stand with Abdullah Shafique, though Pakistan ultimately lost that match by an innings and 103 runs. The PCB has not announced any formal squad adjustment as of August 28, 2026.

England held a 357-run lead after the third day at Lord's, placing Pakistan's remaining batters under considerable pressure. The top order was already short-handed with Imam unable to bat in the first innings, and the task of avoiding defeat falls to those still fit enough to take the field.

Should Pakistan lose at Lord's, it would mark England's first Test series victory since December 2024 and extend Pakistan's away record to nine defeats from their last ten Tests in foreign conditions. The two sides previously met on English soil during the Covid-era tour of 2020, when Pakistan lost the series 1-0. The third and final Test of the current series is scheduled to begin on September 9 in Birmingham, and Imam's fitness in the days between matches will be a significant concern for Pakistan's management as they prepare for that fixture.