“If a player is sleeping in the dressing room while we are playing Test cricket, should I allow that as a team director?": Mohammad Hafeez

[BouncerGuy]

Mohammad Hafeez speaking suring a social media interaction:

“If a player is sleeping in the dressing room while we are playing Test cricket, should I allow that as a team director? I was in the dressing room and found 4-5 players sleeping while a Test match was ongoing. I wondered how you guys could do that. If you do something like this, you cannot be a part of this team. I want you to stay focused during the game. Off the game, whatever you do, that’s your own life. I never get involved in it. But during the professional hours of the game, I want you to focus on the game and stay in touch all the time. Even as a fast bowler, you can rest. You can have a good ice bath. But you need to concentrate on the cricket game and observe how the other team is playing. You cannot just switch off during the game. Unfortunately, the media didn’t like this. They questioned why I told my players not to sleep in the dressing room.”
​

 

[RidiculousMan]

Mohammad Hafeez speaking suring a social media interaction:

“If a player is sleeping in the dressing room while we are playing Test cricket, should I allow that as a team director? I was in the dressing room and found 4-5 players sleeping while a Test match was ongoing. I wondered how you guys could do that. If you do something like this, you cannot be a part of this team. I want you to stay focused during the game. Off the game, whatever you do, that’s your own life. I never get involved in it. But during the professional hours of the game, I want you to focus on the game and stay in touch all the time. Even as a fast bowler, you can rest. You can have a good ice bath. But you need to concentrate on the cricket game and observe how the other team is playing. You cannot just switch off during the game. Unfortunately, the media didn’t like this. They questioned why I told my players not to sleep in the dressing room.”
​

Imran Tahir shared a story from South African dressing room. Saying that Jacque Kallis used to sleep often during the game before his batting came. He used to bat at no. 3 and when his time came he woke up and went on to score 200.

Imagine if Kallis was in Pakistan's dressing room. He would've been kicked out of the team long ago.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Imran Tahir shared a story from South African dressing room. Saying that Jacque Kallis used to sleep often during the game before his batting came. He used to bat at no. 3 and when his time came he woke up and went on to score 200.

Imagine if Kallis was in Pakistan's dressing room. He would've been kicked out of the team long ago.

Nobody would have said anything if the Pakistan players also scored something or did something worth mentioning. But when your performance is zero and attitude is sky high then you deserve to be kicked out.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Nobody would have said anything if the Pakistan players also scored something or did something worth mentioning. But when your performance is zero and attitude is sky high then you deserve to be kicked out.

Who's performance is zero? Hafeez should also name the players he's talking about. Is he talking about Babar? Saud? Salman? Abdullah? Or Sarfraz?

 

[BouncerGuy]

Who's performance is zero? Hafeez should also name the players he's talking about. Is he talking about Babar? Saud? Salman? Abdullah? Or Sarfraz?

everyone saw what happened on that Australia tour.

 

[pakistani pride]

Who's performance is zero? Hafeez should also name the players he's talking about. Is he talking about Babar? Saud? Salman? Abdullah? Or Sarfraz?

They are all 0. With Babar leading from the front in non performance. How cam some 1 compare a great like Kallis to this tourists lot. No one would complain if you sleep and then go out to smash a 100.

 

[RidiculousMan]

everyone saw what happened on that Australia tour.

We have been saying that for decades. Even the greats failed to perform and win in Australia. Hafeez himself including

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Is waking up the players from naps really the role of the team director?

 

[Major]

Sorry but Hafeez went crazy as team director.

This is a pakistani problem, give an irrational man some power, he than starts thinking of forcing everyone to do what he does.

Cricket is a slow game that extends to hours and doesnt require everyone to play when batting.

In the past, guys like Nasir Jamshed were allowed to take naps as they had joined the team suddenly after a long flight.

 

[Vikram1989]

Viv always used to sleep .As per himself he used to yawn as soon as he came to crease and it sort of intimidated others.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Viv always used to sleep .As per himself he used to yawn as soon as he came to crease and it sort of intimidated others.

Giving an example of VIV and Kallis against these bunch of individuals?? nay bro.

 

[RyanRyan10]

He should have named the cricketers instead of virtue signaling like this.

 

[RidiculousMan]

He should have named the cricketers instead of virtue signaling like this.

Ex Cricketers always do this. They can't name it because a) they exaggerate and b) they don't want to get bashed back by the player/s

 

[AAli98]

Viv always used to sleep .As per himself he used to yawn as soon as he came to crease and it sort of intimidated others.

It was definitely Ifty who was sleeping ..watch the USA game he was half a sleep !

 

[Rana]

Where was Hafeez sleeping when he decided Sahibzada Farhan should bat at 7 and Haseebullah should open?

This guy deserves no respect having exposed himself like this!

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

First get to the airport on time, then lecture others.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I don't get his obsession with 'discipline.' This is a cricket team bro not a military unit.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Our people are always obsessed with the most useless and insignificant stuff while ignoring the job they are actually there to do.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Imagine Hafeez working with Rohit Sharma lol

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

I don't get his obsession with 'discipline.' This is a cricket team bro not a military unit.

Discipline usually correlates to higher performance in numerous fields, chief of which being sports - so I can see where he's coming from.

Having said that, he first needs to set the standard himself - which he hasn't done very well.

Secondly, the team seems to go through these phases every time they get booted early from a tourney. The "discipline" drama lasts for a few months, featuring some fitness and selection camps at NCA, etc. and then it's all forgotten. To see the benefits of discipline, one must be consistently disciplined over many years. Currently, the team is behaving like an overweight middle-aged man who sets a New Year's Resolution of losing weight every January but by February they cancel their gym membership.

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

Imagine Hafeez working with Rohit Sharma lol

Sharma probably sets a higher standard of himself than anything the Professor could enforce.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

First get to the airport on time, then lecture others.

This. What a hypocritical Whoever gave this guy the "Professor" moniker should be shamed in public.

For such a mediocre player/analyst/coach , he always looks to dominate discussions and his sanctimonious attitude is even more annoying considering he was a multiple times offender for being a chucker.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Discipline usually correlates to higher performance in numerous fields, chief of which being sports - so I can see where he's coming from.

Having said that, he first needs to set the standard himself - which he hasn't done very well.

Secondly, the team seems to go through these phases every time they get booted early from a tourney. The "discipline" drama lasts for a few months, featuring some fitness and selection camps at NCA, etc. and then it's all forgotten. To see the benefits of discipline, one must be consistently disciplined over many years. Currently, the team is behaving like an overweight middle-aged man who sets a New Year's Resolution of losing weight every January but by February they cancel their gym membership.

I don't think that a coach should be acting like a disciplinarian and treating professional players like kids. Hafeez in particular seems to have has no sense of subtlety. And this is not his job to begin with. What is the point of having all those strength and conditioning coaches and physios, not to mention the NCA, if this fool is going to go out there and behave like a PT teacher?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I wish Pakistan media was more tough and brutal on these ex players.

Two main questions that should be asked of them are:

1. Why the hell did you not do anything when you were in charge?
2. If you are so knowledgeable given the abundance of league cricket and int cricket throughout the world why is nobody else seeking your employment?

 

[Dr_Bassim]

If you sleep with zero performance you will be called out every time.

You can be drunk for all I care if you smash that 100.

But you being drunk everyday and scoring less than 10 runs every match is a problem.
.

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

I don't think that a coach should be acting like a disciplinarian and treating professional players like kids. Hafeez in particular seems to have has no sense of subtlety. And this is not his job to begin with. What is the point of having all those strength and conditioning coaches and physios, not to mention the NCA, if this fool is going to go out there and behave like a PT teacher?

To be completely honest, they need to be treated like kids because they act like kids. People above mentioned Kallis and Viv. While those guys had their fair share of immature actions, they weren't as clueless and braindead as this lot.

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

This. What a hypocritical Whoever gave this guy the "Professor" moniker should be shamed in public.

For such a mediocre player/analyst/coach , he always looks to dominate discussions and his sanctimonious attitude is even more annoying considering he was a multiple times offender for being a chucker.

Read somewhere (probably social media so take it with a grain of salt) that he insisted on everyone calling him Professor because he did an MBA or something. Only reflects more poorly on him

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

This. What a hypocritical Whoever gave this guy the "Professor" moniker should be shamed in public.

For such a mediocre player/analyst/coach , he always looks to dominate discussions and his sanctimonious attitude is even more annoying considering he was a multiple times offender for being a chucker.

The professor is actually more of a dig at him than anything else. People started calling him professor because he has the habit of arguing with everyone just for the sake of arguing. He likes to think of himself as a contrarian. And because he apparently does it in such a self-serious and overly analytical way, people started calling him professor lol.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

The professor is actually more of a dig at him than anything else. People started calling him professor because he has the habit of arguing with everyone just for the sake of arguing. He likes to think of himself as a contrarian. And because he apparently does it in such a self-serious and overly analytical way, people started calling him professor lol.

He's the single most toxic ex Pakistani cricketer I've ever seen.

Waqar and MoYo may have had their issues too but they could at least add some value somewhere. They were greats of the game and at the very least they could share their experience.

This guy offers absolutely nothing, has a massive ego and unlike the likes of MoYo, who only used to troll on TV to get attention, Hafeez comes across as someone who believes in his own hype and the rubbish that he spews.

Single most dangerous person to be involved in any coaching setup , never mind PCT setup.

Should be kept away from domestic/PSL teams too if PCB has any sense.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He's the single most toxic ex Pakistani cricketer I've ever seen.

Waqar and MoYo may have had their issues too but they could at least add some value somewhere. They were greats of the game and at the very least they could share their experience.

This guy offers absolutely nothing, has a massive ego and unlike the likes of MoYo, who only used to troll on TV to get attention, Hafeez comes across as someone who believes in his own hype and the rubbish that he spews.

Single most dangerous person to be involved in any coaching setup , never mind PCT setup.

Should be kept away from domestic/PSL teams too if PCB has any sense.

You're spot on. I think there are probably more toxic ex-cricketers than him. But what makes him so dangerous is his inflated ego and sense of self-importance. He is self-righteous to the core and I'm sure has something of a messiah complex going on inside his head.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

If you sleep with zero performance you will be called out every time.

You can be drunk for all I care if you smash that 100.

But you being drunk everyday and scoring less than 10 runs every match is a problem.
.

I read in a book that Sarfaraz Nawaz used to stay up all night partying during the Australia tour and would still turn up to practice the next morning. Same tour btw where he took 9-86 at the MCG.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Our people are always obsessed with the most useless and insignificant stuff while ignoring the job they are actually there to do.

A scary majority of Cricketers, ex cricketers and executives of cricket in this country don't have solution to the problems of Pakistan Cricket. They have theories in their mind that they apply in with full force as soon as they get any power. They don't have a roadmap, they don't make plans, they come and go through political influence, they don't spend the time on ground before big events to build something better and they are always ready to throw any cricketer under the bus when the time gets tough.

 

[shaz619]

The irony is that Hafeez was sleeping during batting for the bulk of his Test career as an ‘opener’ !

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

His argument is if you're not performing then you don't have the right to do this and he's correct. Too many journeymen in the team waiting for their annual PSL check.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

PCB takes one good decision followed by a bad decision. Kicking out Hafeez as a director was a great decision but then they appointed Wahab Riaz

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

A scary majority of Cricketers, ex cricketers and executives of cricket in this country don't have solution to the problems of Pakistan Cricket. They have theories in their mind that they apply in with full force as soon as they get any power. They don't have a roadmap, they don't make plans, they come and go through political influence, they don't spend the time on ground before big events to build something better and they are always ready to throw any cricketer under the bus when the time gets tough.

Ofcourse they don't. They are unprofessional and deluded nepo hires that want all the glory. They don't understand that true structural change can only happen when you have multiple actors working together with a clear goal and objective in mind. No one person can do it all. Every PCB chairman seems to be dumber than the one before him and the ex-cricketers are no different.

These guys come in with big ideas that are neither well though-out, nor practical or logical. Case in point: the Pakistan Junior League.

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

I read in a book that Sarfaraz Nawaz used to stay up all night partying during the Australia tour and would still turn up to practice the next morning. Same tour btw where he took 9-86 at the MCG.

Ahh yes, the famous exploits at the Cross. Heard stories about this from an Aussie cop

 

[IMMY69]

I players are sleeping during the day then it begs the question, what are they doing in the evenings?

 

[MenInG]

I players are sleeping during the day then it begs the question, what are they doing in the evenings?

The fact is that Pakistan players did not get enough time to acclimatize and get their body clock sorted.

 

[Master Blaster]

My way or highway approach of useless profesor was thankfully cut short at its inception.

 

[pratiktc]

I don't think that a coach should be acting like a disciplinarian and treating professional players like kids. Hafeez in particular seems to have has no sense of subtlety. And this is not his job to begin with. What is the point of having all those strength and conditioning coaches and physios, not to mention the NCA, if this fool is going to go out there and behave like a PT teacher?

100% correct. A lot of this stems from hiring of people who have cricket experience but no coaching qualification or experience.

Guys like Hafeez have no idea how to develop team environment or create value as backroom staff head so they just start aping some random taskmaster stuff. Team director should first earn trust respect of players and coaching staff and then they can guide, coordinate and mediate issues as required.

Ravi Shastri once said his job as head coach was not to generate plans or coach technique. The players were all experienced enough to figure out their individual games and coaching staff and team leadership were adept at developing plans. He would only oversee meetings, pat players on back and maybe quiet word in private with any youngsters he felt needed some confidence/guidance.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Very stupid approach from professor, there is nothing wrong in getting some sleep atleast it makes you fresh for the match

 

[Devadwal]

Why is he talking now ? He was the director so if he was thinking somthing wrong is happened then fixed it

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Very stupid approach from professor, there is nothing wrong in getting some sleep atleast it makes you fresh for the match

To be fair even some Formula 1 drivers have a nap before the race.

Hafeez seems a bit too neurotic for this role.

Lets all give a standing ovation to Zaka Ashraf for creating the mess. He managed to screw up every role in the team

 

[Cricket Warrior]

He is talking about players sleeping in the dressing room and here our janbaaz players usually keep sleeping even on the field.

 

[AAli98]

Must have been him on the Aus tour where he made 3&4 & got booted out of the team.

 

[kingusama92]

In a way Hafeez is right.

This dressing room culture is the reason a guy like Azam Khan even found a spot in the first place.

 

[Mockingbird]

Wait, the batsmen actually get time to sleep during a test match innings? Usually it is quick in, quick out innings for Pakistan in any SENA country.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

I would highly recommend all Pak cricketers to stay underground till WC is over. Fans are already angry and sad. Why troll Indian cricketers right now? Kohli's legacy whether good or bad won't be affected by Hafeez's comments anyway. Hafeez to be blunt doesn't belong in the bracket of elite cricketers who can judge legacy of cricketers.

 

[cogent]

What's wrong with resting? you don't want to be sitting for hours and then get tired just when you're about to go bat.

 

[BouncerGuy]

All of these ex-cricketers come to life after they are retired or not in the PCB as some selector or director. WHen they are in the team, they don't do much.

Talk is easy, but doing something yourself is not.

ATM, it is all just talk.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Salman Butt speaking about Mohammad Hafeez's comments in an interview on social media:

"I don’t know, I wasn’t with him. Maybe whatever Mohammad Hafeez is saying is right, but who was to ensure this? It’s the same as lodging a complaint about your house from outside. You are the team director, you are the one who brought certain people, and you appointed such people as coaches who perhaps would have never come there. You did everything but now can’t conduct a fitness test. What kind of helplessness is this? Should we call it helplessness, incompetence, or lack of control? But it is a question mark on your leadership. They are junior to you, yet you couldn’t administer a test to them.”

“What are you trying to say? You should first consult yourself about what you are trying to say, that no one listens to you. Until someone removes you, no one leaves their place here. And then after that, you lodge such complaints that this was happening, that was happening, that no one listens to me. You should have said that on tour that no one listens to me; I am coming back or giving me some power. I don’t know what to agree with and what not to.”

“When someone else plays Mohammad Amir, he is a sinner, and when you call him on the phone, then it is permissible. If you become coach, then Mohammad Amir’s comeback is permissible, if not, then it is not permissible."​

 

[Sycamore]

BouncerGuy​

Salman Butt speaking about Mohammad Hafeez's comments in an interview on social media:

"I don’t know, I wasn’t with him. Maybe whatever Mohammad Hafeez is saying is right, but who was to ensure this? It’s the same as lodging a complaint about your house from outside. You are the team director, you are the one who brought certain people, and you appointed such people as coaches who perhaps would have never come there. You did everything but now can’t conduct a fitness test. What kind of helplessness is this? Should we call it helplessness, incompetence, or lack of control? But it is a question mark on your leadership. They are junior to you, yet you couldn’t administer a test to them.”

“What are you trying to say? You should first consult yourself about what you are trying to say, that no one listens to you. Until someone removes you, no one leaves their place here. And then after that, you lodge such complaints that this was happening, that was happening, that no one listens to me. You should have said that on tour that no one listens to me; I am coming back or giving me some power. I don’t know what to agree with and what not to.”

“When someone else plays Mohammad Amir, he is a sinner, and when you call him on the phone, then it is permissible. If you become coach, then Mohammad Amir’s comeback is permissible, if not, then it is not permissible."

ehh butt is the mortal enemy of hafeez.

hafeez was in charge of the team how many days ? 25 - 30? Before Zaka Ashraf was replaced and hafeez was sent packing with him and wahab was brought in his place.

He called amir to play domestics and THEN you will be considered. Since amir said no one from previous administrations had given him respect.

Hafeez tried to do the right things in terms of fitness and team culture, and thats why he was the first one replaced.

 

[Savak]

ehh butt is the mortal enemy of hafeez.

hafeez was in charge of the team how many days ? 25 - 30? Before Zaka Ashraf was replaced and hafeez was sent packing with him and wahab was brought in his place.

He called amir to play domestics and THEN you will be considered. Since amir said no one from previous administrations had given him respect.

Hafeez tried to do the right things in terms of fitness and team culture, and thats why he was the first one replaced.

Salman Butt should be ignored regarding Hafeez. He knows Hafeez was the one who aggressively protested his appointment as a consultant to the PCB selection committee.

 

[cricketmania22]

Salman Butt should be ignored regarding Hafeez. He knows Hafeez was the one who aggressively protested his appointment as a consultant to the PCB selection committee.

and who doesn’t have an agenda? Hafeez has an agenda against current players and management. Shahzad has an agenda. He is following Amir and Imad’s blue print. All of our tv pundits are full of agendas.

 

[Sycamore]

and who doesn’t have an agenda? Hafeez has an agenda against current players and management. Shahzad has an agenda. He is following Amir and Imad’s blue print. All of our tv pundits are full of agendas.

Everyone has an agenda, But i would rather have the person in charge who is big enough to swallow his pride and call a fixer like Amir, and say you will be given a level field for selection instead of barring him further. So hafeez please instead of the likes of wahab who has put aside players such as Haris and Waseem without any justification whatsoever.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Salman Butt said on a YouTube show:

“Maybe, he is saying as it is. But whose job was it to ensure that? You are complaining about your team's matters on international platforms. You were team director. It was your job to pick the right people.”

“You picked those people who, on their own, may never be there. You didn't take fitness tests. Who stopped you? Or should I call it incompetence or lack of control? They were your juniors. You couldn't take the tests?”

"You're ranting to Adam (Gilchrist), 'I wanted to do this and do that, but they didn't listen to me. I was the team director'. For god's sake, what were you trying to do? No one leaves their job until they're sacked. Now, you go to an international platform and start complaining there. Why didn't you say that when you were here?"

“Why didn't you ask for more power and backing? I don't know what to agree with or what not to. When someone else played Amir, he was a criminal. But it's fine when you call him yourself.”

 

[GillEdits]

Nobody would have said anything if the Pakistan players also scored something or did something worth mentioning. But when your performance is zero and attitude is sky high then you deserve to be kicked out.

Who is he talking about??

 

[BouncerGuy]

Who is he talking about??

He said 4-5 players, not exactly taking any names.

 

[GillEdits]

He said 4-5 players, not exactly taking any names.

Right.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has taken a jab at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following their recent board meeting, which gathered many former cricketers to discuss solutions for improving the national team after a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.

"Mohammad Hafeez raised his concerns over the lack of fitness & discipline. Being a Team Director, he desperately wanted Team Pakistan to follow the international standards of professionalism. Alas! The new chairman never invited him to discuss the issues & his ideas," Aalia posted.

In response, Hafeez replied, "We live in a society where Abdullah ki baat Samajh nahee aate aur Micheal & Tom sab such kahta hai."

 

[MenInG]

Hassan Ali's take on the 'sleep warning':

https://twitter.com/x/status/1816736836141642075

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Hassan Ali's take on the 'sleep warning':

https://twitter.com/x/status/1816736836141642075

haha they did it because they were more concerned about avoiding the fine than about professionalism