Courtesy: X
During the third ODI of the three-match series at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq was retired hurt in bizarre circumstances after a New Zealand fielder’s throw aimed at the stumps, hit him on the helmet. The incident happened at the start of the Pakistan innings in their pursuit of the 265-run target in 42 overs in a rain-curtailed match after Imam-ul-Haq had walked out to bat with fellow opener Abdullah Shafique.
It was the third ball of the third over, a short of a good length delivery bowled by Will O’Rourke, which Imam-ul-Haq played with soft hands towards the square on the off side before setting off for a run. The fielder was quick to get to the ball before he unleashed a throw to take the stumps down, but Imam-ul-Haq came in the way of the ball, and it got stuck under the helmet grill of the left-handed batter after catching him flush in the face.
Watch the video here:
Within an instant, Imam-ul-Haq removed his helmet after making his ground, and then, he sat down as everyone had a look of concern for him. As the Pakistan physio arrived to the scene to the aid of the batter, he was looking in severe pain, and it appeared that he had hurt his jaw before deciding to retire hurt, putting an abrupt end to his innings of one run in seven balls.
After Imam-ul-Haq was stretchered out from the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Babar Azam made his way to the middle to continue the pursuit of the target for Pakistan.
Below are the playing XIs of New Zealand and Pakistan for the third ODI of three-match series:
New Zealand: Nick Kelly, Rhys Mariu, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert, Michael Bracewell (c), Muhammad Abbas, Mitchell Hay (wk), Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, Will O'Rourke
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam Ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Muqeem, Akif Javed
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