New Delhi: As if the criticism of the Pakistani cricket team back home after their two consecutive losses was not enough, opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq gave fans more fodder for a heavy roasting on Sunday. Imam, nephew of former great Inzamam, cited dietary reason for the team not hitting sixes during the powerplay. Imam suggested that may be if the team consumed more “protein” instead of “carbs”, they would be able to hit more boundaries.
Imam should take cerelac for protein. pic.twitter.com/nG4OVsc1n8
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) October 22, 2023
A Pakistani fan was quick to post a picture of a Cerelac tin jar, saying Imam “should take cerelac for protein”. Another suggested “what about vada pav”.
@Asadali43045206 said “Protein nai inko army k dande ki zarorat ha.”
Protein nai inko army k dande ki zarorat ha
— Asad ali (@Asadali43045206) October 22, 2023
The criticism against Imam that started Sunday continued well into Monday when the Pakistani opener could barely score 17 runs against Afghanistan in Chennai.
Imam ul Haq dismissed for 17 runs.
3sri bar hoye pull Shot pe out. pic.twitter.com/eC07cbPiVu
— Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@Rnawaz31888) October 23, 2023
“Maybe we want to eat more proteins and not that much carbs, but it’s just that there’s nothing we want to talk about it. We really don’t feel it if we are not hitting sixes or fours. Its just what are we doing for the team,” Ul-Haq had said. His comments came as a journalist asked the cricketer as to what is the process or the secret behind the top order hitting sixes.
Imam’s comments set social media platforms ablaze with users trying to understand what he meant by his suggestion for a dietary change. One user commented on how this statement was “awkward humour from a guy who can’t run a 3 on the field,” while another user commented that as a “nation, do we really ever stop thinking about food?”
In a lighter vein another user asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) whether there is no “quality restaurant” in Pakistan that can provide “good protein meals” to the cricketers – highlighting that it has been 1,142 days since the team has hit a six in the first powerplay. Others have questioned the premise of his statement – asking who has stopped them from eating protein?
A gastronomic experience fit for Nizams
While the world cup is reaching its midpoint for the teams, the Pakistani cricketers have enjoyed a gastronomic experience fit for the Nizams when they arrived in India, earlier in the month.
The players were fed plates of biryani as they landed in Hyderabad. A senior media manager travelling with the team posted on X (formerly Twitter) mere hours after arriving in the city saying, “first things first…lived up to the hype!” with an image of the dish at their hotel. In response to a user’s comment, he promised to compare Kolkata and Hyderbadi biryani.
The PCB also shared a video of the team hanging out at the restaurant the “Jewel of Nizam” in the city, enjoying a fine dining experience of Hyderabadi food at the Golkonda hotel.
The Pakistani team also had time to comment on the battle of biryanis – between Peshawar and Hyderabad styles – with Ul-Haq stating that Hyderabadi style is a “11 on 10” in a fun reel shared on Instagram.
(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)