Imam-ul-Haq, the accomplished Pakistani cricketer, has recently shared the distressing impact of ‘parchi’ chants on his mental well-being and family life, shedding light on why his parents abstain from attending his matches in person. The term ‘parchi’ in Urdu refers to a chit of paper but has been widely used colloquially to imply nepotism. Imam-ul-Haq, the nephew of Pakistan cricketing legend Inzamam-ul-Haq, has faced these taunts since his One Day International (ODI) debut.
Speaking candidly on Daniyal Sheikh’s podcast, Imam recounted how the repeated use of the term ‘parchi’ affected him over the course of his career, particularly in the initial three years from 2017 to 2020. He shared, “When I used to go out to dinner with my family, they would come up and call me parchi in front of my parents. I would be sitting at Nando’s with my family, and there would be young students quipping ‘look, the parchi is sitting there’. That was when I would feel the worst.”
Despite Imam-ul-Haq’s impressive performances, which include a century on his ODI debut against Sri Lanka, he has been subjected to this persistent criticism. His career statistics speak for themselves, with a batting average of 51.30 in ODIs and a remarkable record of partnerships with fellow opener Fakhar Zaman.
Imam-ul-Haq acknowledged the detrimental impact of the ‘parchi’ allegations on his family life, saying, “My parents want to watch me play, but they have not seen me play at a venue even once. Even I don’t want them to. I don’t want my mother to hear someone utter ‘parchi’ when I am fielding on the boundary. All this is normal to me. Whenever I am dismissed cheaply, they will not look at what I have achieved in my past but simply utter ‘parchi’. I do not want my family to be exposed to that.”
The emotional toll caused by the chants extends beyond Imam himself, as he disclosed that his family was unable to attend matches until relatively recently. His sister watched him play for the first time in 2022, during matches against West Indies and England, despite him being a senior member of the team. He expressed how this inability for his family to support him in person has been a source of “mental torture.”
Imam-ul-Haq’s revelations serve as a reminder of the significant impact that public perception and criticism can have on individuals, even those who have proven their talent and dedication through their achievements. It underscores the importance of promoting a positive and supportive environment in the world of sports, where athletes can focus on their performance without undue pressure and scrutiny.