I received calls and messages from around 400 female fans: Imam-ul-Haq

22-year-old Pakistan batsman Imam-ul-Haq has burst into the international scene in an emphatic fashion. A hundred on debut and a 5-0 series win for his team brings a smile on his face. Imam is only the second Pakistan cricketer and 13th overall to score a hundred on ODI debut. The cricketer got the first taste of fandom when his inbox was flooded with congratulatory messages.

The youngster said that he had to switch off his cellphone as he received texts from around 400 female fans. Clearly, the spectators in the ground and viewers from all over the world lauded the special feat achieved by the promising Pakistan batsman.

Countering the female fan

“After I scored the century I received calls and messages of congratulations from around 300-400 female fans. My social media was [flooded]. Finally I switched off my mobile internet,” laughed Imam, as he spoke to Geo News ahead of the fifth and final ODI.

“I hadn’t even imagined scoring a century on debut. I’m happy I could be of use to the team. I’m thankful to all my fans for their encouragement,” Imam said. The young lad is the nephew of former great and current chief selector of Pakistan Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Let the bat do the talking: Imam

Imam feels that he had to counter a lot of controversy and criticism for being the nephew of the chief selector but he believes that his bat will do all the talking and with hard work, he will make a name for himself at the international level. He said it has been his childhood dream to win a World Cup for Pakistan. “In any format, I want to win a World Cup for my team. It’s my childhood dream.”

The cricketer is also very particular about his diet and hardly compromises on it. “My mother cooks for me but I don’t eat [the food] and that annoys her,” he said.