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"Mohammad Hafeez is a changed man" : Waqar Younis

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Abdullah719

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Waqar Younis speaking about Mohammad Hafeez:

"Mohammad Hafeez is a changed man"

"Since his comeback, he has started taking risks, specially in the shorter versions of the game"

"He used to try to push the singles and be out there for long periods but now he takes the attack to the opposition and puts the bowlers under pressure"

"He's a good all-rounder and Pakistan probably need him for the World Cup so they'll keep playing him keeping the World Cup in sight"
 
Only if he could have done this few years earlier a lot of the games would have been won by Pakistan.
 
Well he did so during the CT final too.

He has the ability for sure, especially against spinners.
 
Why didn't you ask him to change his game during your two stints as coach ?
 
blackanhyellow said:
Well he did so during the CT final too.

He has the ability for sure, especially against spinners.
Click to expand...

Yes. I maintain that his innings was the difference in CT final. A 290 score would have been fancied by the Indians.
 
Plumb said:
CT17 game after bottling many games... 2011 SF is just one example.
Click to expand...

2011 mohali wasnt that bad an innings. A tad slow, but it wasnt match losing and got us off to a decent start. He definitely could have played better but Shafiq, YK, Razzaq, pretty much the whole batting lineup failed.

Younis khan was cheif the bottler. The most experienced player in the team batting at number floor played an innings of 13 at a strike rate of 40.
 
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blackanhyellow said:
How is that relevant?
Click to expand...
This is what he said:

"Since his comeback, he has started taking risks, specially in the shorter versions of the game"

"He used to try to push the singles and be out there for long periods but now he takes the attack to the opposition and puts the bowlers under pressure"
Click to expand...

Waqar goes on about aggressive cricket in the commentary box yet as coach our batting approach in limited overs cricket was still stuck in the 1990s and we crashed to 9 and 7 in the ODI and T20 rankings under his watch.

Why didn't he encourage Hafeez to play more aggressively when he was in a position as coach to influence his game ?
 
blackanhyellow said:
2011 mohali wasnt that bad an innings. A tad slow, but it wasnt match losing and got us off to a decent start. He definitely could have played better but Shafiq, YK, Razzaq, pretty much the whole batting lineup failed.

Younis khan was cheif the bottler. The most experienced player in the team batting at number floor played an innings of 13 at a strike rate of 40.
Click to expand...

What we were chasing he should have stayed there and finish the game, he was the senior guy.

He plays as a specialist batsmen in top3 almost all the time. Most Team wins and are considered good when their top 3 are solid and score runs on a consistent bases.

He on the other hand cashed on his bowling for most of his career but reluctant to come down the order. If he would have used as Razzaq position/role he must have achieved a lot more in his career.
 
He cant sustain this style in english conditions during the works cup and will fail...
 
Plumb said:
What we were chasing he should have stayed there and finish the game, he was the senior guy.

He plays as a specialist batsmen in top3 almost all the time. Most Team wins and are considered good when their top 3 are solid and score runs on a consistent bases.

He on the other hand cashed on his bowling for most of his career but reluctant to come down the order. If he would have used as Razzaq position/role he must have achieved a lot more in his career.
Click to expand...

I strongly disagree.

Shafiq, YK, Misbah, Razzaq, all played worse innings by far. Did not play according to the situation at all.

When Hafeez was playing run rate was in control due to Kami's early strike rate.

It was after when the middle order could not rotate the strike.
 
blackanhyellow said:
I strongly disagree.

Shafiq, YK, Misbah, Razzaq, all played worse innings by far. Did not play according to the situation at all.

When Hafeez was playing run rate was in control due to Kami's early strike rate.

It was after when the middle order could not rotate the strike.
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You are picking my example and keep running with it and ignoring all the other parts.
 
Markhor said:
This is what he said:



Waqar goes on about aggressive cricket in the commentary box yet as coach our batting approach in limited overs cricket was still stuck in the 1990s and we crashed to 9 and 7 in the ODI and T20 rankings under his watch.

Why didn't he encourage Hafeez to play more aggressively when he was in a position as coach to influence his game ?
Click to expand...

What you are saying would make sense if Waqar was claiming credit in any way for how the team is playing.

Then you would be right in bringing this up.

But he is not.

He is merely stating that he thinks Hafeez looks more aggressive.

Its like Afridi saying Babar is batting sensibly, then someone attacking Afridi saying why didnt you play sensibly? :afridi:afridi
 
Stewie said:
He cant sustain this style in english conditions during the works cup and will fail...
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Disagree pitches in England are flat and if he comes in at #5,6 as he did in the champions trophy he can be a good finisher for us. He only struggles when the pitch has something in it for the fast bowlers, but if the pitch is flat/slow and the bowlers are not getting any movement, Hafeez can turn it on, even against the pacers.
 
Hafeez is great when he's motivated

But he doesn't stay motivated for long. My guess is within a month or two we'll have the same old Hafeez again
 
These performances will haunt is for a few years. He will be selected in all formats because of this. :facepalm:
 
blackanhyellow said:
What you are saying would make sense if Waqar was claiming credit in any way for how the team is playing.

Then you would be right in bringing this up.

But he is not.

He is merely stating that he thinks Hafeez looks more aggressive.

Its like Afridi saying Babar is batting sensibly, then someone attacking Afridi saying why didnt you play sensibly? :afridi:afridi
Click to expand...

except it is nothing like that...! It would be like Woolmer saying, 'I like the way Yousuf is approaching the game since I left' This would be a more appropriate comparison. Your comparison makes no sense.
 
FreePalestine said:
except it is nothing like that...! It would be like Woolmer saying, 'I like the way Yousuf is approaching the game since I left' This would be a more appropriate comparison. Your comparison makes no sense.
Click to expand...

so because Waqar had a poor coaching stint, he is now not allowed to ever compliment (or criticize) a player that was in the team while he coached?

You realize he is a commentator right ?

Every time he makes a comment about a player does he have to make a disclaimer saying "Hafeez is batting agressively, sorry I couldnt get the best out of him while I was coach" :djb

Be reasonable.
 
Waqar also talked about keeping wickets in hand when we were only 2/3 down and RR had climbed to 10 RPO. Goes to show the defensive approach he'd have instilled into the players during his stint as a coach.
 
Haffez haters will always find some problem with him. He has saved us in the last 5 matches, what more do you want? Why arent people talking about Hasan Ali, Faheem, Asif Ali? They havent done anything but still play every match cuz they are young.
 
Hafeez has been a great servant for pakistan cricket, of course people will say "oo its UAE" or crappy aussie bowlers he is up against but i for one am happy for the man and his renaissance. put some respek on his name..
 
UAE is the main reason Pakistan has not able to make a decent OFI team in decade, since we are here, we are failed to produce modern batsman, seaming allrounder.

All we got are old bits and pieces spin bashers, who are completely clueless outside Asia. Last WC was in AUS, this in ENG.... Another horrific WC in sight for men in green :facepalm:
 
Nope [MENTION=131506]blackanhyellow[/MENTION] Was just saying your comparison didn't make sense. Not really blaming Waqar, that was a different poster.

Although, I do agree with him that for years when Hafeez was a key player in the team he shouldn't have been playing as an opener in ODI's. I hope, unlike Waqar, the think-tank realizes that he is most effective with the bat when he can play attackingly from the get-go and not either a) get out when there is any swing with the new ball, or b) survive and then use up a thousand dot balls in the middle overs.
 
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I mean, when you're blessed in all facets then of course you're a changed man.
 
There is a new edge to the guy for sure, whether or not he should be around for the WC is up for debate, a big debate.

For me, the best possible WC side Pakistan can field, based on players who have and are playing or are in the squad in this time period is:

1. Imam ul Haq
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Babar Azam
4. Shoaib Malik
5. Asif Ali
6. Sarfraz Ahmed wk/c (he'll still be around)
7. Faheem Ashraf/Hussain Talat (can bat higher for sure)
8. Shadab Khan
9. Hasan Ali
10. Shaheeh Shah/Muhammad Amir/Shinwari
11. Junaid Khan
 
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Still too early to say if this a ‘new’. Hafeez.

He hasn’t even made a comeback in ODIs yet.
 
Mohammad Hafeez continuing to impress
 
blackanhyellow said:
2011 mohali wasnt that bad an innings. A tad slow, but it wasnt match losing and got us off to a decent start. He definitely could have played better but Shafiq, YK, Razzaq, pretty much the whole batting lineup failed.

Younis khan was cheif the bottler. The most experienced player in the team batting at number floor played an innings of 13 at a strike rate of 40.
Click to expand...

Hafeez wicket was a Turning point In that game too he was going nicely and look like he could have scored a good score true a tad bit slow but not match losing like you said how ever it was the manner of how Hafeez got out which was dissapoonting
 
blackanhyellow said:
2011 mohali wasnt that bad an innings. A tad slow, but it wasnt match losing and got us off to a decent start. He definitely could have played better but Shafiq, YK, Razzaq, pretty much the whole batting lineup failed.

Younis khan was cheif the bottler. The most experienced player in the team batting at number floor played an innings of 13 at a strike rate of 40.
Click to expand...

It wasn’t a poor innings but a horrible horrible stroke that got him out - nonidea wyat he was thinking by trying to sweep Ashok Dinda when the RR was still under control at the time.
 
Changed huh?

Well lets see how our "Changed" Professor does against South Africa.
 
TeymurBlake said:
Changed huh?

Well lets see how our "Changed" Professor does against South Africa.
Click to expand...

What do you mean?

He's been winning matches for us. Played a key role in winning CT final for us.

Why will you ee him only in SA series? Why not other players? Who will probably do worse and have been doing worse.
 
He has genuinely improved. Even before, he was never this good in UAE so people can't say he is a "FTB" as even in these conditions before he was poor. Seems like him being dropped was a good learning experience for him. I expect him to do well in the ODI's.
 
Hawkeye said:
What do you mean?

He's been winning matches for us. Played a key role in winning CT final for us.

Why will you ee him only in SA series? Why not other players? Who will probably do worse and have been doing worse.
Click to expand...

Winning us matches yes, outside of Asia No. You see against top sides, such as South Africa he will evidently fail, likely with Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz and other batsman in our team.

As for the key role at the CT'17, yes he played a great inning, yes he helped Pakistan win, but the ground works were put in for him. If we were 50-2 by 15.0 overs, he wouldn't have played a great knock and probably would have been out. Bar the semi final and final, he did nothing of note with the bat.

As for winning us matches, Babar opening in T20 helps us massively as he stick around until the end to allow other players like Fakhar, Malik and surprising Hafeez to bat aggressively. What Hafeez did, Asif Ali could do today. Sure Asif Ali isn't perfect but he is a better striker and much more suited to T20 cricket.
 
If you had told hafeez about 15 years ago that you can have a career whereby you only perform on featherbeds in Asia and regularly lose the big moments against better teams and big players but you will still get to have a 15 year career, he would take it with both hands
 
barah_admi said:
There is a new edge to the guy for sure, whether or not he should be around for the WC is up for debate, a big debate.

For me, the best possible WC side Pakistan can field, based on players who have and are playing or are in the squad in this time period is:

1. Imam ul Haq
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Babar Azam
4. Shoaib Malik
5. Asif Ali
6. Sarfraz Ahmed wk/c (he'll still be around)
7. Faheem Ashraf/Hussain Talat (can bat higher for sure)
8. Shadab Khan
9. Hasan Ali
10. Shaheeh Shah/Muhammad Amir/Shinwari
11. Junaid Khan
Click to expand...

Talat is out of contention at this point. Maybe it's Faheem vs Hafeez. Faheem.offers the 4th seamer option while Hafeez the 2nd spinner. If it's Hafeez, he'll bat at 4.
 
It will be interesting if he will take risk and play this way in the ODI format. The SA series will give us an indication. Is Pakistan playing ODIs there? If yes, facing Ngidi, Rabada and Steyn will show us where he is.
 
giri26 said:
It will be interesting if he will take risk and play this way in the ODI format. The SA series will give us an indication. Is Pakistan playing ODIs there? If yes, facing Ngidi, Rabada and Steyn will show us where he is.
Click to expand...

Yes it's a full on tour, 3 Tests, 5 ODI's and 1 T20I
 
He has ability to dominate spinners which is something we lacked in the Asia Cup. Not sure if that skill will come in handy in SA or for the WC.
 
Not his biggest fan but I hope he continues to play with this intent if he is going to remain in the side. Playing defensive doesn't suit him at all.
 
Pete Rose said:
If you had told hafeez about 15 years ago that you can have a career whereby you only perform on featherbeds in Asia and regularly lose the big moments against better teams and big players but you will still get to have a 15 year career, he would take it with both hands
Click to expand...

He was missed dearly in the 2015 World Cup
 
TeymurBlake said:
Winning us matches yes, outside of Asia No. You see against top sides, such as South Africa he will evidently fail, likely with Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz and other batsman in our team.

As for the key role at the CT'17, yes he played a great inning, yes he helped Pakistan win, but the ground works were put in for him. If we were 50-2 by 15.0 overs, he wouldn't have played a great knock and probably would have been out. Bar the semi final and final, he did nothing of note with the bat.

As for winning us matches, Babar opening in T20 helps us massively as he stick around until the end to allow other players like Fakhar, Malik and surprising Hafeez to bat aggressively. What Hafeez did, Asif Ali could do today. Sure Asif Ali isn't perfect but he is a better striker and much more suited to T20 cricket.
Click to expand...

He's done well VS SA in SA in T20s, ODIS I can't remember off the top of my head.

Yeah, stop clutching at straws, give credit where credit is due.. He played a great innings in the final versus India and got us to a great target.

As for if it was 50/2, we won't know now will we? Stop dealing with what ifs and deal with absolutes.

Sure Asif Ali could do it, on a batsmans paradise. Asif Ali has had 5 T20s in a row to show what he could do but he hasn't done much.

Hafeez has done a much better job than Asif Ali and Hafeez isn't even a hitter,
 
Chokli said:
He's done well VS SA in SA in T20s, ODIS I can't remember off the top of my head.

Yeah, stop clutching at straws, give credit where credit is due.. He played a great innings in the final versus India and got us to a great target.

As for if it was 50/2, we won't know now will we? Stop dealing with what ifs and deal with absolutes.

Sure Asif Ali could do it, on a batsmans paradise. Asif Ali has had 5 T20s in a row to show what he could do but he hasn't done much.

Hafeez has done a much better job than Asif Ali and Hafeez isn't even a hitter,
Click to expand...

First of all yes he did well in TWO T20's against SA. But one was against a competent attack. The less said about the ODI's the better. As for clutching straws, I ain't clutching anything and noting out the fact that Hafeez has not changed. A batsman can't just change at the ripe age of 38 specially someone like Hafeez who has been around a while with not much to show.

As for 50-2, that is an example of what can happen if Pakistan were to rely on Hafeez to build bulk of the runs in ODI's we would be out for just over 200. I'm not dealing with if's or buts, I'm just stating the obvious history of us relying on a "experience" batsman hasn't ended well for us.

As for Asif Ali, he needs more games, when you play 5 T20's in Zimbabwe your not gonna deal with much threat from the bowling side, sure Australia gave him a tough time but when you have the other batsman in the team falling you need to play a control and mature innings. Since then we was doing well in the tri-series as a hitter.

Opportunities haven't been given much to Asif Ali, but when he is promoted he is relied upon to hit straight away, not matter what the conditions are. Hafeez has done a better job because he plays the way he wants to, not for the team. His place was put under question my Mickey and he's responded like this.

But this won't last forever as history has shown this won't end well for Hafeez.
 
TeymurBlake said:
First of all yes he did well in TWO T20's against SA. But one was against a competent attack. The less said about the ODI's the better. As for clutching straws, I ain't clutching anything and noting out the fact that Hafeez has not changed. A batsman can't just change at the ripe age of 38 specially someone like Hafeez who has been around a while with not much to show.
Click to expand...
Damned if you, damned if you don't eh? He's still a vital part of our set-up, averages don't tell the whole story. So far he's looked good and at ease, other than Hafeez it's only been Babar who has been somewhat comfortable in the UAE. We all saw what happened when Hafeez wasn't there in the Asia Cup, the ODIs should tell a little bit more if Hafeez has changed or not.. But even if he fails, he should still be backed till the World Cup.

As for 50-2, that is an example of what can happen if Pakistan were to rely on Hafeez to build bulk of the runs in ODI's we would be out for just over 200. I'm not dealing with if's or buts, I'm just stating the obvious history of us relying on a "experience" batsman hasn't ended well for us.
Click to expand...
With or without Hafeez, at 50/2 we'll most likely collapse. We'll have a few games here and there where we recover but majority of the time Pak is prone to collapses....We were collapsing before Hafeez and will do so after, it's just the nature of the game.

As for Asif Ali, he needs more games, when you play 5 T20's in Zimbabwe your not gonna deal with much threat from the bowling side, sure Australia gave him a tough time but when you have the other batsman in the team falling you need to play a control and mature innings. Since then we was doing well in the tri-series as a hitter.
Click to expand...

He has had 9 LOI innings in a row to show his true worth on these pitches, and all I've seen are 20s and 30s at a Hafeez-esque strike rate. He won't be successful in UAE, which is surprising since most of our PSL games are held here.

Opportunities haven't been given much to Asif Ali, but when he is promoted he is relied upon to hit straight away, not matter what the conditions are. Hafeez has done a better job because he plays the way he wants to, not for the team. His place was put under question my Mickey and he's responded like this
Click to expand...

Asif 2.JPG

Hafeez 1.JPG

Yeah, it's Asif who is playing for his spot in the team whereas it's Hafeez who is playing for the team.
 
rhony said:
Talat is out of contention at this point. Maybe it's Faheem vs Hafeez. Faheem.offers the 4th seamer option while Hafeez the 2nd spinner. If it's Hafeez, he'll bat at 4.
Click to expand...

Talat is one for the future and can also ball. No reason why both he and Faheem shouldn't be in the side. It would just mean that Malik has to bowl more.
 
Too much negativity surrounding Asif Ali. Every modern limited overs side is allowed at least one player like him. He can certainly hit a long ball on any ground on the planet and if he can get a decent score of say 30-40 for a sr of 90+ once in 5 innings, then it is up to the inning builders like Babar, Malik and one other to do their jobs.

Lay off him, the kid is doing ok.
 
Changed man ?

Apart from the Dubai hundred, it's been the same old crap.
 
He is a treat to watch when his aggressive and bats positively. Now with his bowling back, he is a real asset to the team. I just don’t like it when he becomes timid, and eats up dot balls.
 
This is the problem with short term fixes - they are just that. We have wasted six Tests on Hafeez and will now have to throw someone like Abid Ali into the deep end in South Africa.

I was always skeptical of this "changed Hafeez" talk - was only a matter of time before he reverted to type.
 
As expected the novelty wore off after 1 inns, but as a "world class" all rounder and "blessed in all facets" of the game hes been a much needed passenger in the team.
 
Hes a mucb better player on the middle order and when he looks to take the attack to the opposition

Well played professor!!
 
Pakistan will have a big problem once this guy retires from limited overs cricket.

The rest of them all are tuk tuk type of batsmen. Remember that!
 
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