ICC World Cup | Pakistan depend on me and Babar Azam to score, says Imam ul Haq

After Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam threw away their wickets by playing needless shots, the partnership between Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez brought back expectations for the Pakistani fans and it seemed that they could pull off their highest World Cup run-chase. 

However, Imam also took the same route and instead of leaving a wide delivery alone, he tried to pull but could only glove it to Alex Carey. The dismissal transformed the match with three more wickets falling down in quick succession. Imam understood the fact that the timing of the dismissal was wrong and he should have continued.

"Obviously, I'm playing well - and this team depends on me and Babar (Azam). When Babar got out (for 30), it was then my responsibility and I was going well but it was not a good ball that got me out, the same as I did against the West Indies.

"I knew I'd spent a hell of a lot of time on a tricky wicket so I knew it wouldn't be easy for any new batsman to come in. So it was a huge disappointment because it's a World Cup stage and if you are set, you really have to make it count if you want to stay in the tournament," Imam was quoted as saying by AFP.

Pakistan will next face arch-rivals India at the Emirates Old Trafford on June 16 and the game will have high stakes involved for the prevailing political tensions in the last few months. Imam believes that Pakistan will have to win the game despite their terrible record against India in the World Cup.

"Yes, we've had one game rained off which was very important for us - every game now is very important for us, so yes you can say that.

"Obviously, to be part of that kind of game, it's great. It's in Manchester, lots of Pakistani fans there - so I'm really excited about it. It's a huge pressure game, obviously. Pakistan and India, there's a lot of mysteries behind that but we want to just focus on our cricket strengths and how we can get better."