Pakistan’s chaotic England tour rumbles on: Opener Imam-ul-Haq faces probe after failing to bat at Lord’s – as under-fire selector launches blistering attack and complains: ‘The world is laughing at us’

Imam-ul-Haq will be subject to a disciplinary probe from Pakistan after failing to bat in either innings of last week’s series-deciding defeat to England at Lord’s.Imam suffered a calf tear early in the 194-run Test loss, but is set to have action taken against him, according to Pakistan director of high performance Aaqib Javed, who also doubles as one of his country’s selectors.Aaqib blasted the former Yorkshire left-hander in an interview with Pakistani television network Geo, adding to an extraordinary few days that has seen seven players axed, Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked as Test coach and Misbah-ul-Haq resign from the selection committee.’The Imam injury is a big question mark, and a deep disappointment,’ Aaqib said.’Players in the past used to get injuries, but they used to put on casts (to play) and still tried. We’ll take action against this.’How is it possible that a pulled muscle ruled you out of batting in both innings? He should have tried and fought. He’ll have to face an inquiry; I can’t say he faked it, but a muscle pull like that cannot stop you from batting altogether.’ Imam-ul-Haq will be subject to a disciplinary probe from Pakistan after failing to bat at Lord’sShortly before play began on the second morning, the Pakistan Cricket Board issued a statement revealing the 30-year-old nephew of the legendary Inzamam-ul-Haq had suffered a tear in his left calf, and that medical advice would determine his further participation in the match.Two days later, having not batted in Pakistan’s first innings effort of 110 all out, Imam emerged to warm-up alongside his team-mates, but was criticised by Sky Sports commentator Stuart Broad, who reckoned it was ‘all for show.’Imam did not bat later that day, with Shan Masood deputising as opener once again as an Ollie Robinson-inspired England dismissed the tourists for 194.Hours later, it emerged that Imam was one of a septet of players being sent home that also included established wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, who had captained the side in the first Test in Babar Azam’s absence and then been dropped for the second, and Ali Usman, who took a five-wicket haul at Headingley.’Two Test matches have come and gone and the team has not competed in any way,’ Aaqib said, appearing to blame Sarfaraz and Babar for picking the wrong XI.’There’s one Test still to go. They [the management] had a pace all-rounder available, a second wicketkeeper, a fast bowler in Ubaid Shah. But those decisions were not being made. I spoke to the captain and coach and asked them to put Ubaid in because the other bowlers are all similarly paced.’No batter in our top seven bowls. We should have included an allrounder, but most importantly, get in Ubaid Shah. One fast bowler changes the composition of your attack.’I understand dropping Agha, who’s out of form, but you should have played Ghazi Ghori instead of Rizwan. Someone had to take action. The world is laughing at us because we can’t even compete. The message we’re sending to the recalled players is that you have to raise your game on important tours and compete, and we should be able to see some effort.’The Imam investigation arguably deflects from Aaqib’s own role in Pakistan’s demise over the past two years.Highly-respected foreign coaches Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten considered their positions untenable after just a few months and Aaqib, after a failed stint as head coach himself, was influential in appointing Sarfaraz in May.Of his own involvement in picking the touring party for this three-match series, Aaqib said: ‘When we select the team as coach or captain and make a squad, we’re responsible for that squad.’But once they go on tour, we cannot do anything about the match-to-match combination.’No one doubted these players’ performances when selected. But when players are completely out of form and you’re not competing at all, then we needed to make a decision.’Your captain, head coach and management have some responsibilities.’