‘Looks like he’s here for a boxing match’ – Imam’s taped hands draw comms chuckles

Cricket World Cup commentators were puzzled and somewhat amused by the amount of tape on Imam Ul Haq’s hands during the India’s innings in Sunday’s match against Pakistan.

Sanjay Manjreker and Waqar Younis noticed the opening batsman fielding with both hands heavily taped with the former claiming ‘it’s a bit excessive.’

Imam has suffered a broken hand in the past and may be exercising caution with his heavy strapping.

While Waqar suggested that Imam looked ‘Like he had turned up to a boxing game’, Manjreker reasoned that in the cold climate of England that players might be more prone to bruises or hand injuries.

Both former players felt that the tape was a little over the top though, saying they had never seen that much strapping on a fit player’s hands.

Tape or protective strapping on the hands is not unusual in cricket with the rules governing the use of plasters, bandages or any other kind of strapping quiet loose.

Australia’s David Warner had his use of heavy strapping questioned during the ill-tempered Test series during which the opener earned a one-year ban for his involvement in the sandpaper ball tampering scandal.

When Proteas players suggested that Warner had used the tape to tamper with the ball, he was defended by former teammate Ryan Harris.

“I think their allegations are a little bit frivolous,” Harris told Sports Sunday in 2018.

“I think they’re obviously looking for something to pin on him, he’s one step away from suspension as we heard after the last week.

“The times I played with Davey he had all that strapping on his fingers. Unless there’s something rough, sand or glass or something on that taping, that’s not going to do anything to the ball.”