Dubai - Having a famous lineage is never easy. The sheer weight of a famous name hangs like a sword and can bog one down but to Imam-ul-Haq's credit, he has done admirably well to get out of the shadows of being Pakistan great Inzamam-ul-Haq's nephew.
It was being said that the bespectacled opener made it to the Pakistan team just because his uncle is the chief selector, which it is safe to say, is a bit unfair on the lad. But like that old and flogged clique goes, he has certainly let his bat do all the talking. If that debut ODI hundred against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi last year wasn't enough to silence critics, Imam has whipped up three more across nine matches, with back-to-back centuries in his last two matches against Zimbabwe.
A full year with the Pakistan team has toughened him up and as the stylish left-hander prepares for the Asia Cup, nothing flusters the 22-year-old anymore. In fact, he shows amazing maturity which far belies his age, evident in how he tackled some tricky volleys from the media at the ICC Cricket Academy on Thursday. "I want to be Imam-ul-Haq, let me clear that," said Imam.
"He (Inzamam) is my uncle and it is not my fault. He has been a legend for Pakistan and there is pressure, I won't lie. Especially, the pressure that comes from Pakistan media and I sometimes have to deal with it. But now, I'm used to it. The support system around me is good and I now know how to handle these things. Nine matches and four international hundreds, the start has been good. I have a bat and there is a ground and I just want to perform," he added.
India are the hosts of the Asia Cup but with the UAE being Pakistan's 'home' away from home since 2010, they have a bit of a 'home' advantage. Imam agreed but said that things even out as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have similar sort of surfaces and conditions.
"You could say that (having the advantage) because we have played a lot of cricket here since 2010. We know the conditions very well but you know India have played IPL as well here. But it is the same kind of wickets in Asia so it will be same for all the other teams as well," he said.
A lip-smacking India-Pakistan tussle awaits on September 19 and while a host of questions were directed at him, Imam handled them with ease. "India are a very good team and since Virat (Kohli) isn't there, there will be a bit of a difference. But even without him, they are a good batting side and the conditions here in Dubai are pretty similar to Indian wickets. But we are not looking at that and we are just looking to play some aggressive cricket which has been taught to us. If you look at our performances after the Champions Trophy, it has been good. So, we are going in with a positive mindset and to play freely," said Imam.
It will be the first time since Pakistan beat India in the final of the Champions Trophy last year that the two sides meet. But Imam said that was the past and this would be a new game. "I don't think there is a psychological effect. Whenever a Pakistan-India match comes around, we have to control our nerves because things could go against you during a game or it could favour you. So, it doesn't matter what the previous record is and it depends on how you perform on the day. Both are very good sides and heading to the World Cup, it is going to be a very good match," he said.
