Pakistan fly-half Imam-ul-Haq wants team to ‘dominate’ England in hometown Multan | Cricket News

Pakistani fly-half Imam-ul-Haq is looking for his side to ‘dominate’ England as he prepares to play his first Test in his hometown of Multan.

England picked up a famous fifth-day win in the series opener at Rawalpindi – just their third Test win in Pakistan – in a match in which they smoked 921 runs in just 136.5 overs over the course of of his two innings, including 506 from 75 overs on opening day. .

Imam, who hit a century in Pakistan’s first hit, believes the hosts could have been more aggressive in their second run, in which they were fired for 268 to 343 as England ran out 74 runs winners on the flattest terrain.

Pakistan must now triumph in Multan this week to keep their hopes of a series victory alive.

The imam said Sky Sports Cricket“There was a chance [in Rawalpindi] that we did not collect. We didn’t hit well in the last session. I think we could have won that test match, but hats off to the English boys. Ben Stokes’ captaincy was brilliant.

“Chasing 657, you’re still behind, so we have to survive and dominate as well. We didn’t play the second set so well. There were times when we could have attacked and won the test match.

“Pakistan are famous for their comebacks and we hope to come back stronger.

“The way England are playing their Test matches is exciting. We are excited but we will control what is in our control. We have to be mentally strong and have new plans and hopefully it will be our day.”

We were prepared for this – but not 500 the first day. They played some brilliant, high-risk shots. Reverse sweeps can go anywhere, but at this time they were going to the limit.

Imam’s 18th test for Pakistan will be his first in Multan. The 26-year-old played three one-day internationals at the venue against West Indies in June, reaching half a century in each game, but says his first Test appearance there “is a feeling I don’t can’t describe in words”.

He added: “I wanted to score a hundred [in the ODIs] but walked out because of that excitement. I was very nervous.

“It’s going to be very exciting for me in the test match. A great team like England are playing against us, so it will be very special.

“In my early childhood, I saw my uncle [Inazmam-ul-Haq] play here. He won us a test against Bangladesh so there are a lot of memories.”

Friday, December 9 4:30 a.m.

Imam also has fond memories of Pakistan’s last Test win against England at home, in Lahore in 2005, which he attended after dropping out of his nearby school.

“I had to skip school [to see the game] but my mum wouldn’t allow me,” added the batter, who has scored each of his three Test tons so far in Rawalpindi.

“My school was very close to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. My brother came to me – I remember the words – and he said, ‘Pakistan are winning so we have to hurry.

“He said Shoaib Akhtar played really good reverse swings and yorkers. I remember he played good slower pitches.”

Watch day one of the second Test between Pakistan and England, in Multan, live on Sky Sports Cricket from Friday. Assembly begins at 4:30 a.m. before a departure at 5 a.m.