ISLAMABAD – Pakistan batsman Imam-ul-Haq suffered a nasty-looking injuryjust weeks away from the start of the World Cup when he was struck apainful blow on the arm by England fast bowler Mark Wood on Friday.
The incident took place in the fourth over of Friday’s penultimateinternational of the five-match series at Trent Bridge when left-handedopener Imam missed an intended pull off an 89 mph delivery from therecalled Wood that hit him on the elbow.
Imam, fresh from his career-best 151 in the third ODI at Bristol onTuesday, fell to the ground and winced on the turf in the agony. Accordingto a Pakistan Cricket Board official, he has been taken for a precautionaryscan.
The 23-year-old nephew of Pakistan great and selection chief Inzamam-ul-Haqthen had several minutes’ treatment before retiring hurt on three not out,with the tourists then nine without loss.
Earlier, England stand-in captain Jos Buttler had elected to field againstPakistan after he won the toss in the day/night fourth one-dayinternational at Trent Bridge on Friday as the World Cup hosts looked tocomplete a series win.
England, 2-0 up with two games to play in this five-match series, made fivechanges from the side that beat Pakistan by six wickets in Bristol onTuesday in another day/night clash.
The first ODI of the series on at the Oval May 8 was declared a no resultdue rain.
Vice-captain Buttler led the side as England one-day captain Eoin Morganserved a one-game ban imposed after the team’s slow over-rate in Bristol.
Buttler, England’s first choice white-ball wicket-keeper had been restedfrom Tuesday’s match following his blistering century at Southampton in thesecond ODI last weekend.
The talented Buttler was back behind the stumps on Friday after Englandrested Test gloveman and dynamic ODI opener Jonny Bairstow following theYorkshireman’s 128 in Bristol.
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World Cup favourites England had always made it clear they would rotatetheir side during the Pakistan series ahead of next week’s announcement ofa final 15-man squad that they hope will see them win the showpiece ODItournament for the first time.
Bairstow’s absence saw Hampshire top-order batsman James Vince givenanother chance to make a case for World Cup selection.
England also freshened up their attack, recalling fast bowler Mark Wood forhis first international appearance of the season and pairing the Durhampaceman with recently-qualified Sussex quick Jofra Archer, rested from thelast two matches.
The duo replaced fellow quicks Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett, whileleg-spinner Adil Rashid replaced left-arm quick David Willey.
Pakistan, who beat England in the semi-finals of the 2017 Champions Trophyen route to winning the last major global ODI tournament staged in Britain,made three changes.
Senior spin bowling all-rounders Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez returnedwhile teenage fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain was also included in their side.
Trent Bridge has twice seen England post the highest innings totals inone-day international history during the past three years — with theirmammoth 481 for six against world champions Australia last year following ascore of 444 for three against Pakistan at the Nottingham ground in 2016.-APP/AFP
