Strongest Test playing XI featuring Under-26 players

#2 Imam-ul-Haq

Imam-ul-Haq

Imam-ul-Haq is the nephew of the legendary Pakistani batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq. The young batsman first came to the limelight during the U-19 Asia Cup in 2012. At that time he was still just 16 and played with exceptional maturity to score at an average of 45 from his first 5 games.

A big low struck him when the left-handed middle-order batsman failed to impress at the U-19 World Cup in 2012. However, he was quick to get back to form as he performed well at the U-19 Tri-Series tournament in 2012 and scored 237 runs in 6 innings.

Imam made his Test debut for Pakistan on May 11, 2018, against Ireland. In the 7 Tests he has played so far, the flamboyant batsman has gone on to score 334 runs at an average of 30.36 and strike rate of 47.18.

Even though the figures are not as good as he would have liked, one has to keep in mind that he is still just 23-year-old and is just settling in.

The strokes he plays, however, prove that he is a classy batsman and here to stay for the Men in Green as a long-term prospect. The Lahore-born player is also a sharp fielder and that is an added advantage for Pakistan.

Not only is Iman a great prospect in Tests, but he is also settling in well in the ODI team. In the 4th ODI during Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe, the youngster scored a sublime century. He scored 113 and Fakhar Zaman, his opening partner, scored 210 runs. Together the duo put together 304 runs which is the record for the highest opening partnership in ODIs. Needless to say, Pakistan went on to win the match convincingly with a margin of 244 runs.