Mohammad Hafeez's form in PSL and how it will impact Pakistan's T20 World Cup chances

[Ozeirk]

I was a big believer that Hafeez is an important cog of our T20 team as after Babar Azam we didn't have a player who could finish games for us or raise the run rate in the middle and end overs. Imad Wasim is good in short bursts but I believed he didn't have the skills to carry the innings for 7 to 8 overs and everyone's aware of Shoaib Maliks struggles against quality pace bowling in foreign conditions.

Now looking at his recent form in PSL where he looks completely at sea one cannot help but think he will carry this form to the world Cup.

Do you believe he will raise his game when it matters and he is taking things lightly in PSl?

 

[Canistani Hero]

There is only space for one of Hafeez and Malik if we are serious about our chances and currently Malik is edging it, Hafeez is slightly more deadly with his bowling to lefties but Malik can also bowl a couple overs if needed. Malik can stabilize a top order collapse, something Hafeez struggles to do. Even more concerning is, Hafeez has made a habit of one big innings to cement his place followed by a series of 4-5 failures until his place is under scrutiny again and it's the exact same script whether Pakistan or Lahore Qalandars.

In an ideal scenario, Misbah watches Sharjeel score a potentially matchwinning 60+ at a brisk pace (KK vs IU on March 14) effectively dumping IU out of the competition and cementing our WC Top XI as:

1) Babar
2) Sharjeel
3) Haider
4) Malik
5) Z Ashraf
6) Ifti
7) Shadab
8) Imad
9) Amir
10) Shaheen
11) Wahab/Haris

We could as consider playing all 4 of Wahab, Haris, Amir and Shaheen whilst playing 2 of Ifti, Shadab and Imad

 

[moghul]

Just one good inning in PSL and then complete failure and he is 40 plus now, Hafeez will be a total failure at any international level, particularly overseas. Does not make any sense to keep him in consideration now.

He should have retired from international cricket 2 years ago.

 

[badsha001]

if we have to chose between hafeez and malik then it has to be Malik. At least he can somehow manage to buy few runs off the trundlers whereas Hafeez is too good for that.

 

[aloo paratha]

This PSL showing yet again that Malik is better than Hafeez.

 

[The Viper]

Hafeez will play one good knock, and then be rubbish for a while.

The same pattern occurred in the WC.

 

[Hawkeye]

Hafeez >>>> Malik.

 

[GreenKhan]

Hafeez is reverting to type . One good match and then he goes missing in the heat. He scored 16 of 24 when Lahore were chasing 180 and failed to close the match the other day getting out meekly .

He is a serial choker . Averages 20 in 5 t20 world cups and 27 in 3 50 over world cups . Anybody who advocates he is the next best bat after Babar on the basis of one fluent innings really have no idea .
He should not be any where near the team .

 

[aloo paratha]

Hafeez >>>> Malik.

Long term and short term records in T20s show otherwise.

 

[Bigboii]

Aloo paratha
But in Australia I think Hawkeye is right but in India you are right but hafeez can also bowl and his competition is ifti chacha

 

[hitthestump]

Hafeez has always been a one innings wonder. That one innings will be jam packed with jaw dropping strokes and clean strikes, leaving the viewer wondering if finally after 15 years Hafeez is ready to fulfil his true potential as a batsman.

Then in the next 7 games he will get out to part time off spin while hogging a space in the middle order.

 

[coy0607]

no question on who out of Hafiz and Malik make's it to the T20 team.. hopefully Misbah doesn't go with both of them

 

[Canistani Hero]

Hafeez will play one good knock, and then be rubbish for a while.

The same pattern occurred in the WC.

and before that in the England ODI's and before that..for essentially his entire career.

 

[Canistani Hero]

Hafeez >>>> Malik.

Bowling yes. Overall value to team no.

 

[moghul]

Hafeez is not important enough to deserve a thread anymore. Was a mediocre player of the past.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

He could get a duck in every remaining match and will still be selected

Other than the 2012 t20 World Cup, Professor has been a failure in all tournaments, but we clearly need his experience in failing

 

[Down2Earth]

Well neither Malik or Hafeez are any good. But those calling for Malik to be selected should remember the t20 is in Australia and we know what happens to him when it bounces a touch too much

 

[ZamanFan]

This is how he has played for Pakistan team all his career. Scores in the first match of the tournament than makes poor scores along the way. Soft dismissals, spooning to fielders in the circle. Just imagine what Hafeez and Malik will do in the WT20, NOTHING.

 

[Ryw]

Hafeez is totally out of form, please not a suitable player in World T20, there are better players in Pakistan

 

[Majid Khan]

Hafeez is totally out of form, please not a suitable player in World T20, there are better players in Pakistan

PCB need to arrange a series with Zimbabwe on emergency basis, that’s the best cure to get Hafeez into form. A handsome century against Chigumbura and co. and this forum will be filled with compliments and people saying we always rated him as Pakistan’s best batsman

 

[fuzail]

PCB need to arrange a series with Zimbabwe on emergency basis, that’s the best cure to get Hafeez into form. A handsome century against Chigumbura and co. and this forum will be filled with compliments and people saying we always rated him as Pakistan’s best batsman

Dont you know what Mpofu did with Hafeez in 2013

 

[unemployedgm]

Even if Mohammad Hafeez scored a century in every PSL match, I would have zero confidence in him for the T20 World Cup.

 

[GreenKhan]

Even if Mohammad Hafeez scored a century in every PSL match, I would have zero confidence in him for the T20 World Cup.

Totally agree . He averages 20 in 25 world t20 matches . With 1 50. What experience is he going to bring! The experience of consistently failing at the big stage .

 

[Rellu_Katta]

He is blocking Iffti Chacha getting into the team and Iffti is a much better player....

 

[Nasty Naz]

Hafeez and Malik are both horrible in Australian conditions so the answer is neither of them should be on the T20 world cup squad.

 

[Salman4.]

I just fear that Ifti would be dropped in order to accommodate one of Hafeez/Malik.
He is already batting too low at KK.

 

[MenInG]

Mohammad Hafeez in a special video message:

"Its a sad decision which was not expected, but its good for the health of many people"

"We need to back this decision and also to fight against this disease"

"God Willing this mela will come back again and the LQ team will be together again; This journey has just started and we will finish it on a high note"

"Obviously, we werent enjoying ourselves without the fans as they are the lifeblood [of this game]; To play in the ground without them was not giving us any joy, so am hoping that the fans will come back and this PSL season end on a successful note"

"I would like to thank all the fans who came to all 4 venues and supported their favourite players and backed them; We should thank and salute the Armed Forces who made this tournament successful; Hoping that we will all be safe from this virus and it will be removed from this world and happy times will come back with all of us together"

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Don’t add either malik or hafeez. Both are just jobbers. Hafeez and malik did ok in this PSL which is good but on the big stage they both choke, perhaps you’ll get one special innings from hafeez like a high 80 score but other than that they’ll both fail.