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How does Mohammad Hafeez keep finding his way into squads despite lack of performances?

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Abdullah719

T20I Captain
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Apr 16, 2013
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Honestly, his best aspect appears to be captaincy and Sarfraz has that locked down.

  • He played one innings of note in the Australia ODIs after being dropped on the first ball.
  • He played one innings of note in the PSL apart from which he could barely reach double figures.
  • Drops catches all the time yet fields at crucial positions.
  • Proven to be a failure under pressure and against quality bowlers.

Why is he rated so highly?

I understand that when in the zone and batting fluently, he is a treat to watch. But that rarely happens against decent opponents or on a good pitch.

If he is picked for what he offers with the ball, why does he bat at important spots in the batting order?

How much does he offer to the team with his recent track record of injuries? He is 36 years old, not 20.

At this rate, he will be back in the Test squad as well if he can hit a fifty in the LOIs against WI.

Are the likes of Saad Ali and Hussain Talat so terrible that they can't be given a chance against an ODI team like West Indies (no disrespect towards them but they're really struggling in the 50-over format)?

For the likes of Shehzad and Kamran, you can at least make a case based on their recent domestic performances despite their flaws. But there is no justification for the selection of Mohammad Hafeez.
 
That's one thing i would really like to know. Does he have some political connections? Does he know some journalists? What is it?
 
"He played one innings of note in the Australia ODIs"

"He played one innings of note in the PSL"

That's how.
 
He is Mickey's selection. Mickey is too ineffective/incompetent to know any better.


Inzi is too soft to say anything and fulfill his job responsibilities.
 
Syed1 said:
He is Mickey's selection. Mickey is too ineffective/incompetent to know any better.


Inzi is too soft to say anything and fulfill his job responsibilities.
Click to expand...


He isn't Mickeys selection. Arthur dropped 35 year old Pollock so why would he stick with a mediocre player like Hafeez?
[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] will back me up on this.

He is national treasure. He is rated highly in Pakistan as [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] has mentioned.
 
Sheer luck or political connections.

Merit is out of the question in his case. He's been woeful in all formats for a while.
 
Tactically sound.

Intelligent player.

All-rounder, so can contribute in multiple facets of the game.

That's probably what the selectors see in him.
 
he's a senior!
and seniors are virtually undroppable in Pak cricket

always been like that
 
His contribution since 2010 has often been underrated because of his failures in overseas Tests, but he was one of our better batsmen during these years and when you factor in his chucking, he was easily the MVP. However, with the rise of Babar, the resurgence of Malik and the success of Sarfraz, he has become redundant with the bat. As far as his chucking is concerned, he has been replaced by Imad and Nawaz and Malik can roll his arm as well. Shadab is another option now.
 
A talented and strong player is always a threat to the mafia in PCB. Mediocre players and yes men like Hafeez are suck ups who keep selectors happy and in turn selectors keep them in the team.
 
Mamoon said:
His contribution since 2010 has often been underrated because of his failures in overseas Tests, but he was one of our better batsmen during these years and when you factor in his chucking, he was easily the MVP. However, with the rise of Babar, the resurgence of Malik and the success of Sarfraz, he has become redundant with the bat. As far as his chucking is concerned, he has been replaced by Imad and Nawaz and Malik can roll his arm as well. Shadab is another option now.
Click to expand...

Talking about ODIs

Last 5 years batting (avg/sr): 38/81
Last 2 years batting (avg/sr): 38/82
Last 1 year batting (avg/sr): 24/70
 
Syed1 said:
Talking about ODIs

Last 5 years batting (avg/sr): 38/81
Last 2 years batting (avg/sr): 38/82
Last 1 year batting (avg/sr): 24/70
Click to expand...

The numbers reflect what I said. He has been redundant for a year now, with Babar cementing his place at number 3 and Sarfraz turning a corner in ODIs. Malik too has done well since the World Cup. He is not needed anymore.
 
Professors never get shamed or dropped, that's why.

Who gave him the name anyways?
 
He wrote the book "how to win friends and influence people"
 
Where are all those that used to blame Misbah for his selection? I said many times he is there because of a corrupted system.
 
Syed1 said:
He is Mickey's selection. Mickey is too ineffective/incompetent to know any better.


Inzi is too soft to say anything and fulfill his job responsibilities.
Click to expand...

Funny. Is he not the captain's 'friend'?
 
I know for a fact he is not 36 (through a personal family friend of my father who's relative was in Hafeez's class).

A travesty he is in the squad.
 
Another player we thought was 'educated' 'respectable' 'team man' yet when the time comes, refuses to see his shortcomings and feels like he is entitled a place in the team due to his seniority. The selectors duly oblige and he continues to take advantage until he is unceremoniously dropped after continued failure too serious to ignore.

Same thing that is happening with Misbah and Younis in Test cricket
 
Because pak team management loves to carry extra useless baggage with them.
I would still take afridi over this useless player anyday.
 
Why do we keep picking late 30 somethings. He will clearly be over the hill by WC then we will be squirming around trying to find a last minute replacement.
 
Hafeez is doing another afridi by holding on to the team being half fit and not performing at all. If the ball has any movement from the pitch he is gone will not last an over.

Every series when selected we think he will fail and he never ever disappointed us. I'm sure he will fail in WI too but will be selected again for the next series. How ? Nobody knows.
 
Last edited:
This is one area where we have edged ahead of all the subcontinental teams, since the appointment of Dhoni as the skipper, he has through his ruthlessness made performance on merit the only criteria for selection and dispassionate decisions have helped winning close games. Pakistan will have to get rid of the seniority culture to have any substantial improvement in their fortunes, but i don't see anyone with an iron fist to take harsh decisions. Ideally the preparation for the world cup should have begun by blooding a few young batsman in the team which hasn't happened sadly.
 
Like Afridi he must have major contacts within the PCB. No other explanation.
 
Contacts and Parches!! - He is absolutely horrible batsman, but remain in Misbah 11 for 7/8 years without contest... He is Old, Misbah's friend and free of scandal(except for chucking), what else he needs? - Talent, skills who needs that in Misbahism, even below average will work, if you have enough miles(both on field and around Misbah) ;-)
 
I want him to play all games in WI and flop big time so the likes of him and other TTFs like Akmal are discarded for good.

First round exit in CT is on the cards. Pakistani selectors just never learn.
 
The usual issues. Lack of vision by the PCB selectors.
Somehow getting demolished with a full strength squad of mediocre players put less pressure on the selectors (from ex-players and press) vs. getting demolished by investing in a new squad.

I want Pakistani fans to think about this for a moment:
About a year or so ago: our answer to senior match-winning player in the odi/t20 side was Shahid Afridi
Now its Hafeez and Malik.....let me repeat that Hafeez and Malik. Think about that.
 
The_Odd_One said:
I want him to play all games in WI and flop big time so the likes of him and other TTFs like Akmal are discarded for good.

First round exit in CT is on the cards. Pakistani selectors just never learn.
Click to expand...

we've seen this script, it doesnt play like this unfortunately: they (malik, hafeez, shehzad, akmal) will do well in the windies. and flop in CT. They'll be thrown out for 6 months during which time we might get a new coach or their replacements in the national team will not have a good start. Meanwhile these guys will be doing really well in domestic and stage another comeback under a new coach or new selection board that will conveniently ignore the decade long records of these senior players.
 
I m more upset for retaining Misbah ( in test ) than selecting Hafeez, which by itself is a pathetic work by the selectors.
 
selecting Hafeez will backfire soon, it's a mistake clearly.

He'll manage to play 1 good innings by luck and then he'll be going to England to play CT where he'll fail most likely. He's hogging the spot for youngsters. It's time to develop youngsters for next world cup.
 
Hasan123 said:
He isn't Mickeys selection. Arthur dropped 35 year old Pollock so why would he stick with a mediocre player like Hafeez?
[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] will back me up on this.

He is national treasure. He is rated highly in Pakistan as [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] has mentioned.
Click to expand...

No, he's indeed Mickey Arthur's selection. Can't correlate with an irrelevant event of the past.

He was called to Australia by the management led by Mickey. Inzi had no role in that.

Also, Mickey loves Malik and has really praised him in the past. Likes both Hafeez n Malik.
 
Hawkeye said:
No, he's indeed Mickey Arthur's selection. Can't correlate with an irrelevant event of the past.

He was called to Australia by the management led by Mickey. Inzi had no role in that.

Also, Mickey loves Malik and has really praised him in the past. Likes both Hafeez n Malik.
Click to expand...

No he isn't. He got rid of him in tests.

Yes he rates Malik highly I won't deny that.
 
I am Sorry to repeat the question but honestly what does Hafeez bring to the table (now)?

He can neither bat well nor keep it tight or take wickets.
 
It's just his T20 career that's been floundering, it's been like that for a while. Doing pretty well in ODI's but he needs to somehow keep his bowling tight like how he's been doing for years otherwise he'll get booted out.
 
msb314 said:
Hafeez is on his last legs now.

His Test career is already over and unless he pulls a rabbit out of the hat - his T20 career will be done soon.
Click to expand...

No, unless Umpires call him, he'll be carried til 2020; might even lead PAK again. He is rated highest in PAK - along Mazid Khan, with add bowling quality. To protect his spot in CT team, Inzi has picked Asif Zakir - even if Asif gets a match or two for MoHa's failure, they can easily drop him on account of experience (Unless MoHa gets "injured" just before an UK tour in early summer).

On top of that, if somehow, he plays a good knock & gets few cheap wickets, Misbah'll play him as batting all-rounder in Test. These bunch are protecting each others & they are helped by PCB.
 
this series should be his last. Clearly he is in the team because of his connections with Misbah and the higher ups in the PCB.
 
Abdullah719 said:
Wahab has almost always performed in tournaments and did well at PSL. Was the best bowler in Australia Tests too.

Hafeez has done literally nothing to get picked.
Click to expand...

Apparently he felt his performances in Australia were better as an all rounder.

It's good if he plays these four T20s and bowls 10 overs. He bowled a solitary over tonight, and clearly he was chucking to the extent that was hard to ignore. Even in past, this wasn't as obvious with his original action as it was tonight. If there were a video. He will be reported. No doubt about that.
 
last_knight said:
Apparently he felt his performances in Australia were better as an all rounder.

It's good if he plays these four T20s and bowls 10 overs. He bowled a solitary over tonight, and clearly he was chucking to the extent that was hard to ignore. Even in past, this wasn't as obvious with his original action as it was tonight. If there were a video. He will be reported. No doubt about that.
Click to expand...

Which is good because there is no way he should be in the squad as a batsman alone.
 
Yes Wahab is inconsistent but Hafeez has taken that to a new level. He is a walking liability and an easy wicket for the opposition. He needs to be dropped for the next match and I'm very sure he will be dropped. Fakhar will get his chance.
 
He has strong backing .

Now Inzamam is selector , when he was captain he kept playing players in his own group , still is doing same.
 
Which team in the world plays a complete failure has been like Hafeez in place of a youngster??
 
How is misbah still captaining pakistan side?
How YK still allowed to play when he performs less than 20% of time?

Why is babur selected for t20 when he plays 45% to 50% of his innings in dots?

Hafeez, just like yk and Misbah, playing based on connections.
 
Hafeez has become the synonym of useless.

He can't be consistent to save his life. He will perform once in a blue moon and book his ticket for the next series, he is not at all threatning with the ball, and now can't even be economical, he got one over from Imad;s quota, whose economy was 4 in 3 overs, but Hafeez professor got spanked for a six and conceded 8 runs in an over. His batting is useless just useless in t20, he got out like a little kid after wasting balls, even Kamran and Shehzad did better than him.
 
Abdullah719 said:
Wahab has almost always performed in tournaments and did well at PSL. Was the best bowler in Australia Tests too.

Hafeez has done literally nothing to get picked.
Click to expand...

I understand that argument, but in my view I prefer not to cherry pick a handful of the best performances in a career spanning 24 tests, 77 Odis and 24 t20s. I don't see the value of doing that - he has had long enough to cement his place, and he's been unable to perform which is why he has been dropped in the past, and will again. its just a simple fact that he is thoroughly mediocre and wastes a space in the bowling line up.

if the odd performance here and there is enough justification, we might as well campaign for afridi or gul coming back in the side.
 
Cant even defend him anymore

Pretty much a passenger in the team
 
Its really not Hafeez, Malik, Shehzad, Sohail Tanvir etc's fault.

Its the fault of the coach and the selection committee.
What happens in Pakistan is that you have these 3-5 year cycle of coach/selection committee. Every new coach understandably comes to Pakistan hoping to first work with the senior talent on hand. After all, it doesnt behoove to alienate these senior cricketers (and their handlers in the PCB). Plus in the defense of these mediocre players, perhaps the coach genuinely feels that he can turn them around.
So it starts with
Phase 1: coach and selection committee picking the usual suspects. They perform as bad as their decade long pedigree suggests. The pressure on coach and selection committee increases subtly, but they get a free pass at this stage since they say "we wanted to be fair with everyone": this phase is usually one season long.
Phase 2: with justification of the senior players being mediocre, a squad with fresh faces is selected, a few easy series go well, but season ends poorly against tougher teams (or in a multi-team tournament), and now the pressure goes up truly: press starts sniping, ex-players pipe in, etc etc (again, this is about a season or season and a half long phase)
Phase 3: feeling the heat coach and selection committee go back to a team with lesser young talent but same mediocre seniors - because tactically, at this stage the management is just trying to save their jobs. Predictably team performs poorly and govt changes and or selection committee disbanded and or coach quits.

These three phases take about 3 to 5 years.
 
dropping Hafeez is in fact bigger than the result of the game - we already won today!
 
So much for National Treasure being the most powerful player after Imran. :D [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]
 
Inzi tried his best to inflict Hafeez onto us only to be outdone by our best captain in decades.


All hail Saifi


:salute
 
I fear the collapse today and possible loss may give the impression that we need the professor.
 
Square Drive said:
So much for National Treasure being the most powerful player after Imran. :D [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]
Click to expand...

I was waiting for this day to return back your smile :19:

I always sum it in one line - in PAK/PCB ranks, people who has seen both live & played with/against, rates MoHa along with Majid Jahangir Khan ......................... on top of that, this guy is extremely effective chucker.
 
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