Genghis
Test Debutant
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2005
- Runs
- 13,325
Mohammad Hafeez has long been considered Pakistan’s version of Graham Hick. Able to score runs at ease at the domestic level but unable to break free on the international stage. Technically he has appeared sound when facing the best international bowlers in the world, but often his temperament and concentration has wavered. So when Hafeez was called up to the Pakistani squad for the recently concluded ODI series against England, little was expected of him.
In fact it was the suspension of Test captain and fellow opener Salman Butt on allegations of spot-fixing which paved the path for a return for Mohammad Hafeez to the top of Pakistan’s batting order. PakPassion.net recently caught up with an upbeat Hafeez following a successful overseas tour for him.
Confidence is something which is contagious within a team and Hafeez was grateful for the support he had received from the team. “Because of the confidence gained from the captain and management I was able to play with ease and score runs. And when you score runs you feel a part of the team.”
Hafeez added that the series was particularly special for him as it came after a 3 year hiatus from the ODI side. The foreign English conditions also were tricky but Hafeez was able to rise above the challenge and finished with an impressive total of 167 runs at an average of 33. “The conditions in England were quite tough, but I was able to adjust and perform which was something very precious for me. I am very satisfied with my performance in this series.”
The search for a successful opening pair has proved to be a ‘mission impossible’ for the Pakistani selectors since the retirement of Saeed Anwar. Several openers have been forced to play musical chairs with the opening slots and Hafeez feels it is this uncertainty which has made it hard for him to feel settled in the side. “Not often has Pakistan had the same openers for 5 consecutive games,” Hafeez was quick to add. Hafeez and Kamran were the openers in all 5 ODIs against England and it is this stability which helped build a successful partnership.
With Kamran out of the South Africa ODI series, it will mean that Hafeez will once again be pairing with a new partner. “I have no idea about who I will be opening with but surely I will miss Kamran Akmal as a colleague as our partnership has been fantastic,” Hafeez said. “Whoever will be with me as the opener, Inshallah (God Willing) I hope to continue my good performances."
Not only did Hafeez prove a success with the bat in England, once again he proved an effective bowler with a miserly bowling economy of 4.74. When questioned on what he felt his role in the team was, Hafeez spoke enthusiastically and with self-belief of his abilities as an all-round cricketer. “I do not consider myself as a part-time bowler. Whenever I get the chance I bowl like a proper bowler. I feel bowling comes natural to me. When I am on the field I feel I am the sharpest fielder in the squad and when it comes to bowling I feel like I am the best and most economical in the squad. I feel that even though I concentrate mostly on my batting, I feel I am blessed to be very good in all three facets of the game.”
For now though Hafeez is re-focusing his attention on his T20 game as his team, Faisalabad Wolves plan to avenge last year’s grand final loss in the Faysal Bank T20 tournament. The new shortened game has proved to be a massive success worldwide and Pakistan is no different as Hafeez pointed out. “T20 is always a good crowd puller in Pakistan. The four day game and the one dayers have lost interest from the public but when you get to the T20 tournament it doesn’t matter if its happening in Lahore or Karachi, the crowd is always there. It will be good entertainment for the crowd as well as for the players participating.”
The Wolves are expected to progress past the group stage but it is the competition from the Sialkot Stallions, Lahore Lions and Karachi Dolphins in the later rounds which will be the real tester. Hafeez however was in no doubt of his team’s chances “Faisalabad has always done very well in the T20 format for the last 4-5 years. We have consistently made the finals and won it as well and we’re confident that trend will continue.”
The camaraderie is also high within the team as Hafeez added. “As a team our performance has been outstanding. We have a good combination as a team and we all trust and support one another.” In a team with the likes of newly appointed Test captain Misbah Ul-Haq, spin wizard Saeed Ajmal, Hafeez himself as well as a combination of some highly rated youngsters, they certainly have a team to challenge.
Hafeez will also be hoping to continue his good form and stay in the selector’s thoughts as teams begins finalising their squads in anticipation for the prestigious World Cup tournament to be held in the subcontinent next year.
In fact it was the suspension of Test captain and fellow opener Salman Butt on allegations of spot-fixing which paved the path for a return for Mohammad Hafeez to the top of Pakistan’s batting order. PakPassion.net recently caught up with an upbeat Hafeez following a successful overseas tour for him.
Confidence is something which is contagious within a team and Hafeez was grateful for the support he had received from the team. “Because of the confidence gained from the captain and management I was able to play with ease and score runs. And when you score runs you feel a part of the team.”
Hafeez added that the series was particularly special for him as it came after a 3 year hiatus from the ODI side. The foreign English conditions also were tricky but Hafeez was able to rise above the challenge and finished with an impressive total of 167 runs at an average of 33. “The conditions in England were quite tough, but I was able to adjust and perform which was something very precious for me. I am very satisfied with my performance in this series.”
The search for a successful opening pair has proved to be a ‘mission impossible’ for the Pakistani selectors since the retirement of Saeed Anwar. Several openers have been forced to play musical chairs with the opening slots and Hafeez feels it is this uncertainty which has made it hard for him to feel settled in the side. “Not often has Pakistan had the same openers for 5 consecutive games,” Hafeez was quick to add. Hafeez and Kamran were the openers in all 5 ODIs against England and it is this stability which helped build a successful partnership.
With Kamran out of the South Africa ODI series, it will mean that Hafeez will once again be pairing with a new partner. “I have no idea about who I will be opening with but surely I will miss Kamran Akmal as a colleague as our partnership has been fantastic,” Hafeez said. “Whoever will be with me as the opener, Inshallah (God Willing) I hope to continue my good performances."
Not only did Hafeez prove a success with the bat in England, once again he proved an effective bowler with a miserly bowling economy of 4.74. When questioned on what he felt his role in the team was, Hafeez spoke enthusiastically and with self-belief of his abilities as an all-round cricketer. “I do not consider myself as a part-time bowler. Whenever I get the chance I bowl like a proper bowler. I feel bowling comes natural to me. When I am on the field I feel I am the sharpest fielder in the squad and when it comes to bowling I feel like I am the best and most economical in the squad. I feel that even though I concentrate mostly on my batting, I feel I am blessed to be very good in all three facets of the game.”
For now though Hafeez is re-focusing his attention on his T20 game as his team, Faisalabad Wolves plan to avenge last year’s grand final loss in the Faysal Bank T20 tournament. The new shortened game has proved to be a massive success worldwide and Pakistan is no different as Hafeez pointed out. “T20 is always a good crowd puller in Pakistan. The four day game and the one dayers have lost interest from the public but when you get to the T20 tournament it doesn’t matter if its happening in Lahore or Karachi, the crowd is always there. It will be good entertainment for the crowd as well as for the players participating.”
The Wolves are expected to progress past the group stage but it is the competition from the Sialkot Stallions, Lahore Lions and Karachi Dolphins in the later rounds which will be the real tester. Hafeez however was in no doubt of his team’s chances “Faisalabad has always done very well in the T20 format for the last 4-5 years. We have consistently made the finals and won it as well and we’re confident that trend will continue.”
The camaraderie is also high within the team as Hafeez added. “As a team our performance has been outstanding. We have a good combination as a team and we all trust and support one another.” In a team with the likes of newly appointed Test captain Misbah Ul-Haq, spin wizard Saeed Ajmal, Hafeez himself as well as a combination of some highly rated youngsters, they certainly have a team to challenge.
Hafeez will also be hoping to continue his good form and stay in the selector’s thoughts as teams begins finalising their squads in anticipation for the prestigious World Cup tournament to be held in the subcontinent next year.
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