Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Imam-Ul-Haq drives en-route to 55 in the win over Warwickshire at Scarborough on Tuesday.
Imam-Ul-Haq believes Yorkshire’s season is “going in the right direction” after helping his new county to two wins in as many appearances.
The Pakistani overseas batter debuted in the Rothesay County Championship win over Sussex at Scarborough last week before, on Tuesday, helping them start the Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign with a bang.
He scored a classy and measured 55 in pursuit of 138 to beat Warwickshire at the same venue.
The county now travel to Wantage Road to face Northamptonshire Steelbacks tomorrow (11am).
“The boys are so talented,” said left-handed Imam. “Whenever you go, wherever you go, if you score runs in a winning cause, you feel special and (I’m) really looking forward to the next matches.
“It was a great feat for us last week as well.
“We also played against Surrey, and that was a very good week.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Imam-Ul-Haq celebrates victory against Warwickshire.
“I guess we’re going in the right direction.
“But it’s just the process, we have to keep believing. It’s a long tournament. We still have seven games to go, and I hope we qualify for the quarter-finals.”
Reflecting on the Warwickshire win, which saw the Bears slip to 38-7 before scrambling to 137 all out, with Ben Cliff taking a maiden first-team five-wicket haul, Imam continued: “I always believe that bowling is all about partnerships.
“The way Cliffy and Jack White bowled the first 15 overs, that was the tone.
“If you get half a side out inside 15 overs, then obviously you’re on the top of the game.
“Bessy used the bowlers very, very smartly, and it was a good bowling unit that we had.
“I was then playing with limited shots because I knew it was going to be a tricky chase.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ben Cliff celebrates one of his five wickets in Tuesday’s opening day win against the Bears.
Imam, aged 29, has been with Yorkshire for just over a fortnight now.
“It’s so great, and I’ve been welcomed with a very big heart,” he continued. “I’m enjoying every moment of it.
“Whatever it takes, I just want to improve as a player here and want to learn.”
This is the all-format Pakistan international’s second spell in county cricket after a short stay with Somerset towards the end of 2022. He played three Championship matches and scored two half-centuries.
He is, however, with Yorkshire for longer – until the end of the season. It’s an opportunity he is relishing.
The nephew of Inzamam-Ul-Haq, who also played for Yorkshire in 2007, Imam said: “I was there for four games, but I had to go (early) because of my father’s heart attack.
“They were also very good boys, but it’s nice when you’re here for two months. You get to know each other more, and you get to play in two formats.
Picture by Vaughn Ridley/SWPix.com. Imam Ul-Haq’s uncle, Inzamam, played for Yorkshire briefly in 2007.
“It will be a very exciting time for me.”
Imam has an impressive record in List A cricket, scoring 10 hundreds in 116 List A matches. He is within striking distance of 5,000 career runs – 302 away to be precise.
Nine of those 50-over hundreds have come in a Pakistan shirt. His ODI average stands at 47.04 from 75 appearances.
“These are the two formats which I really enjoy, the Test Matches and ODI cricket,” he said.
“I have a good international record in 50-over cricket.
“This is a new phase of my life, and I’m enjoying it.
“I want to do something with this Yorkshire team in a winning cause.”
Picture by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images. Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been playing Championship cricket for Northamptonshire and will feature in the 50-over competition.
Asked to expand on his “new phase of my life” comment, he added: “I went to Somerset three years back, and I’m 29 now.
“So lots of change in my personality. I’m calmer and very patient. I have got married as well. I’m a very different guy.
“And I always try to learn from these youngsters, because they are very young. Almost the average age is like 23, 24. I want to improve with these guys as well.”
Yorkshire face a Northamptonshire side whose opening game was washed out without a ball bowled against Lancashire at Sedbergh School on Tuesday.
The Steelbacks finished second-bottom of Group A last year. Coached by Darren Lehmann, they are captained by wicketkeeper-batter Lewis McManus.
They have two overseas players at their disposal in Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and New Zealand batter Tim Robinson.
Veteran former Yorkshire seamer Ben Sanderson is one of their absentees because of the Hundred.
