Imam injury revives old PCB inquiry

Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq’s latest injury has revived questions over a previous inquiry into his fitness during the team’s 2025 tour of New Zealand.

According to a report posted on Geo Super web portal, while citing sources, saying, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to examine the circumstances surrounding his latest setback.

Imam came under scrutiny after suffering a calf injury that forced him to miss batting in both innings of Pakistan’s second Test against England at Lord’s.

The development has brought renewed attention to an incident during Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in March 2025, when a PCB inquiry committee reportedly held Imam responsible for allegedly misrepresenting an injury.

The incident reportedly occurred on March 28, 2025, when a ball struck Imam’s right big toe during an indoor net session.

An X-ray reportedly showed no evidence of a fracture or dislocation. Imam later complained of severe pain and discoloration, the report said.

Despite medical staff advising him against walking, Imam allegedly walked about 500 metres to attend an iftar gathering, the report said.

According to the inquiry report, a team doctor later cleaned Imam’s toe with chemically treated paper, after which the alleged black mark disappeared.

The committee reportedly concluded that the substance removed from Imam’s toe was not a natural blood mark but ink or marker. Imam denied using ink or any artificial substance on his toe when questioned by the committee, according to the report.

The committee reportedly found his explanation inconsistent with the medical evidence, the X-ray findings and the appearance of the toe.

Team officials also told the committee that Imam appeared to limp while under observation but walked normally when he was out of their sight.

The inquiry committee reportedly concluded that there was no medical basis for declaring Imam unfit for Pakistan’s first ODI against New Zealand.

It held him responsible for allegedly fabricating, exaggerating or misrepresenting his symptoms and misleading medical staff, according to the report.

The committee also concluded that Imam had deliberately attempted to make himself unavailable for the opening ODI.

The committee reportedly recommended that Imam be banned from representing Pakistan across all formats and at all levels.

The inquiry committee described the episode as deliberate, pre-planned and deceptive.

The controversy also reportedly included allegations that Imam wanted to avoid opening the batting on New Zealand’s pace-friendly and challenging pitches.

Now, with Imam sidelined by another injury in England, the findings of the 2025 inquiry have once again come under discussion.

The report said, citing sources, that the PCB is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding his latest injury, particularly in light of the earlier inquiry.

The PCB has not publicly detailed any new investigation into Imam’s latest injury.