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[VIDEO/PICTURES] Mohammed Hafeez announces retirement from Test cricket

Abdullah Rabbani

Abdullah Rabbani

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Mohammad Hafeez at a presser:

"I am announcing my retirement from Test cricket"

"I am really happy and proud because I feel I worked hard in the last 15 years of my career. Thank you very much to the PCB, they helped me in each step of my career"

"Many thanks to all the people who backed me and the management who gave me a chance and forgave my mistakes"

"I would like to thank my parents for supporting me"

"I would like to thank my family for their support"

"It was a tough decision and I was thinking about it for the last 2 weeks, I think this is the best time for me to leave Test cricket"

"I want to put all my efforts in white ball cricket where I feel I can offer more for Pakistan cricket moving forward"

"This is very much my own decision and I told the board and my teammates"

"My whole energy will now be focused on white-ball cricket"

"I've had an incredible journey in Test cricket"

"Test cricket plays a role in making you a complete person"

"As an opener in Tests, I tried my level best in my humble capacity and I am very satisfied and proud of my contributions"

"This decision was made from before, but I think announcing now was best for everyone so that we have clarity"

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Wow. Malik happened. He retired the same way after scoring double hundred.

Good for him and team. (He probably knew management will not play him in South Africa) so it was about time.
 
Should have been there for SA tour, his experience is needed especially in Tests.... Sed end to his Test career where he was blessed in all facets
 
Lmao, what an attention seeking selfish player.

Retires in the middle of series decider.

There is a limit to attention seeking bhayya jii.

Aur ye naik kaam krna he tha to should have retired from all forms of cricket.
 
SarfiBabarHaris said:
Lmao, what an attention seeking selfish player.

Retires in the middle of series decider.

There is a limit to attention seeking bhayya jii.

Aur ye naik kaam krna he tha to should have retired from all forms of cricket.
Click to expand...

Indeed. Had he retired after Aus series it would have given Sarfraz and Mickey the opportunity to try out someone else.

Still happy that he has quit.
 
Prince of Pakistan said:
Indeed. Had he retired after Aus series it would have given Sarfraz and Mickey the opportunity to try out someone else.

Still happy that he has quit.
Click to expand...

Hafeez and Shehzad types only think about themselves.

Is sai koi poochay why did he play 5 tests in Uae and especially this series when retirement was in his mind (in actual was scared touring SA). We could have easily tried Abid as an opener in this series who is in top form and might come in line for SA series.
 
Why would he retire mid test? Probably told that he won't be picked ever again.

Few years down the line I see him coming on talk shows and saying that despite being the legend that he is, he was forced to retire after a minor blip in form.
 
SarfiBabarHaris said:
Hafeez and Shehzad types only think about themselves.

Is sai koi poochay why did he play 5 tests in Uae and especially this series when retirement was in his mind (in actual was scared touring SA). We could have easily tried Abid as an opener in this series who is in top form and might come in line for SA series.
Click to expand...

It's pretty clear he feared either being dropped or knew that he wouldn't do much in SA in those conditions.

Either way he has made things tough for Mickey and Sarfraz. Now they will have to try new guys out in those first games in SA.
 
Excellent and responsible decision.

But Inzamam should hang his head in shame, truly pathetic selection from him. Should have never come to this
 
I am announcing my retirement from Test cricket" - Mohammed Hafeez

I am announcing my retirement from Test cricket"

"I am really happy and proud because I feel I worked hard in the last 15 years of my career. Thank you very much to the PCB, they helped me in each step of my career"

"Many thanks to all the people who backed me and the management who gave me a chance and forgave my mistakes"

"I would like to thank my parents for supporting me"

"I would like to thank my family for their support"
 
Prince of Pakistan said:
It's pretty clear he feared either being dropped or knew that he wouldn't do much in SA in those conditions.

Either way he has made things tough for Mickey and Sarfraz. Now they will have to try new guys out in those first games in SA.
Click to expand...

I blame this selfish player for putting himself above the team and selectors for not trying out new players.

Now we will most probably go back to Shan Masood and Inzi will say as likes of Abid doesnt have any experience so better to try Shan. What a farce :/
 
SarfiBabarHaris said:
I blame this selfish player for putting himself above the team and selectors for not trying out new players.

Now we will most probably go back to Shan Masood and Inzi will say as likes of Abid doesnt have any experience so better to try Shan. What a farce :/
Click to expand...

Shan is mediocre suits for only odis bring back sami aslam and debut abid ali.
 
He's been a good player for us, all in all. At 38 years of age, even the very best start declining rapidly so it is not surprising that Hafeez experienced the same. He should now focus on T20 leagues around the world that will no doubt be quite welcoming to such a useful all-rounder.
 
Abdullah Rabbani said:
Shan is mediocre suits for only odis bring back sami aslam and debut abid ali.
Click to expand...

Shan is a mediocre player and weak against fast bowling.

I am not buying this recent hype that he is scoring in list As. He will fail in SA.

On other side, Abid has a decent defensive technique and has scored on green pitches of Islamabad as an opener in last few seasons. I would definitely prefer Abid. It was ideal time to give him a go in this series against NZ.
 
Very selfish of him to retire after playing the best innings of the season (first Test, Australia) and knowing that regardless of his poor form, he can force his way back into the team because the hyped up youngsters who will replace him will inevitably fail, as we saw in the Asia Cup.

He simply cannot win. I have personally accepted the reality that he makes our team in all formats on batting merit. He is not a great player by any stretch, but he is more than decent for our pathetic standards.

He is the only opener we have who can score big at a fluent rate, and yes he was never going to do well in South Africa, which opener in the country today has the skill, confidence and temperament to handle Rabada, Steyn and Philander in South Africa?

I am indifferent towards his retirement because I don’t think it makes us any worse of better. With or without him, we are a mediocre, low ranked team and will remain so.

The series in South Africa will be a 3-0 whitewash regardless of which set of batsmen play. The myth that we are a better Test team without him will be busted just like in Limited Overs.

People should have enough nerve and respect to at least appreciate him for retiring when he could easily have forced his way back for the UAE/Asia Tests, because his replacement, some random batsman with a “talent spotter” thread on PP is unlikely to uproot any trees.

Same goes for Malik as well. He could easily have stretched his Test career in Asia for years. It may not be what we want to hear, but not everything that Hafeez and Malik do is selfish.

I personally respect him for making this call and not stretching his career further. Well done and let the detractors fume because their script of Hafeez forcing his way on the plane to South Africa has been derailed.

They were brushing themselves and doing bhangra over how Hafeez was going to fail in South Africa, and were coming up with fantasy dismissals, but he has proved to be a bigger and more dignified man than all of these little souls.

Well done on a respectable career. One of the most underrated Pakistani players in recent times, and has played some excellent knocks in Asian Tests. On his day, our best batsman in the UAE of his time (excluding Younis of course).
 
I’m a strong believer in when someone chooses to retire, we should respect them and acknowledge their contributions for their country. Hafeez did average almost 40 with the bat and was handy with the ball.
 
A nothing career.

His retirement is a new Dawn for our test team. Should have left the test team 5 years ago. I am genuinely happy. Joke of a cricketer. Mediocre at his best.
 
Good riddance, should have retired 15 years ago, waste of space at top of the order.
 
Mamoon said:
Very selfish of him to retire after playing the best innings of the season (first Test, Australia) and knowing that regardless of his poor form, he can force his way back into the team because the hyped up youngsters who will replace him will inevitably fail, as we saw in the Asia Cup.

He simply cannot win. I have personally accepted the reality that he makes our team in all formats on batting merit. He is not a great player by any stretch, but he is more than decent for our pathetic standards.

He is the only opener we have who can score big at a fluent rate, and yes he was never going to do well in South Africa, which opener in the country today has the skill, confidence and temperament to handle Rabada, Steyn and Philander in South Africa?

I am indifferent towards his retirement because I don’t think it makes us any worse of better. With or without him, we are a mediocre, low ranked team and will remain so.

The series in South Africa will be a 3-0 whitewash regardless of which set of batsmen play. The myth that we are a better Test team without him will be busted just like in Limited Overs.

People should have enough nerve and respect to at least appreciate him for retiring when he could easily have forced his way back for the UAE/Asia Tests, because his replacement, some random batsman with a “talent spotter” thread on PP is unlikely to uproot any trees.

Same goes for Malik as well. He could easily have stretched his Test career in Asia for years. It may not be what we want to hear, but not everything that Hafeez and Malik do is selfish.

I personally respect him for making this call and not stretching his career further. Well done and let the detractors fume because their script of Hafeez forcing his way on the plane to South Africa has been derailed.

They were brushing themselves and doing bhangra over how Hafeez was going to fail in South Africa, and were coming up with fantasy dismissals, but he has proved to be a bigger and more dignified man than all of these little souls.

Well done on a respectable career. One of the most underrated Pakistani players in recent times, and has played some excellent knocks in Asian Tests. On his day, our best batsman in the UAE of his time (excluding Younis of course).
Click to expand...

You've got issues, my friend. Sometimes its okay to agree with the consensus. What is with the constant need to seek attention?
 
Sher Khan said:
I’m a strong believer in when someone chooses to retire, we should respect them and acknowledge their contributions for their country. Hafeez did average almost 40 with the bat and was handy with the ball.
Click to expand...

Respect when they retire at the right time for example like Alaistar Cook who put the team above himself.
 
Snowflake said:
You've got issues, my friend. Sometimes its okay to agree with the consensus. What is with the constant need to seek attention?
Click to expand...

It is easier and more convenient to call me an attention-seeker instead of critiquing what I said, point by point. I do not blame you for taking the easy route.
 
SarfiBabarHaris said:
Hafeez and Shehzad types only think about themselves.

Is sai koi poochay why did he play 5 tests in Uae and especially this series when retirement was in his mind (in actual was scared touring SA). We could have easily tried Abid as an opener in this series who is in top form and might come in line for SA series.
Click to expand...

He would not have been a good choice to take to SA tour even if he wanted to go. He was only good for Asian conditions.
 
Mamoon said:
Very selfish of him to retire after playing the best innings of the season (first Test, Australia) and knowing that regardless of his poor form, he can force his way back into the team because the hyped up youngsters who will replace him will inevitably fail, as we saw in the Asia Cup.

He simply cannot win. I have personally accepted the reality that he makes our team in all formats on batting merit. He is not a great player by any stretch, but he is more than decent for our pathetic standards.

He is the only opener we have who can score big at a fluent rate, and yes he was never going to do well in South Africa, which opener in the country today has the skill, confidence and temperament to handle Rabada, Steyn and Philander in South Africa?

I am indifferent towards his retirement because I don’t think it makes us any worse of better. With or without him, we are a mediocre, low ranked team and will remain so.

The series in South Africa will be a 3-0 whitewash regardless of which set of batsmen play. The myth that we are a better Test team without him will be busted just like in Limited Overs.

People should have enough nerve and respect to at least appreciate him for retiring when he could easily have forced his way back for the UAE/Asia Tests, because his replacement, some random batsman with a “talent spotter” thread on PP is unlikely to uproot any trees.

Same goes for Malik as well. He could easily have stretched his Test career in Asia for years. It may not be what we want to hear, but not everything that Hafeez and Malik do is selfish.

I personally respect him for making this call and not stretching his career further. Well done and let the detractors fume because their script of Hafeez forcing his way on the plane to South Africa has been derailed.

They were brushing themselves and doing bhangra over how Hafeez was going to fail in South Africa, and were coming up with fantasy dismissals, but he has proved to be a bigger and more dignified man than all of these little souls.

Well done on a respectable career. One of the most underrated Pakistani players in recent times, and has played some excellent knocks in Asian Tests. On his day, our best batsman in the UAE of his time (excluding Younis of course).
Click to expand...

Have you ever auditioned for stand-up comedy??
 
Highlight of his Test cricket tenure was magnificent 151 in 2nd innings against England’s powerful attack.
 
Pakhs said:
He would not have been a good choice to take to SA tour even if he wanted to go. He was only good for Asian conditions.
Click to expand...

Yar i don't think he was even good for Asian conditions at this point in his career as the new ball moves a bit here too.

Plus this line of thinking k play Hafeez here in UAE and try someone else in SA wasn't a smart move imo. Inzi messed it up. Now we will try a young opening combo directly in SA. This was a good time to give Abid a go so that he could have 5-6 innings under his belt before SA tour.
 
Also, I can only laugh at people suggesting that he retired today in order to divert the attention from the series.

Hello, we are not playing a World Cup here. It is a series between the 4th and the 6th ranked teams played in front of 15 people and 5 crows.
 
Can't help but commend this decision by Hafeez. In Pakistan senior players have the tendency to hang around long after their time has passed and I'm glad he atleast realized that rather than being a walking wicket and a passenger in South Africa, he should give up his position for a youngster.

Still believe he is an asset in ODI cricket with his bowling and batting (when it comes off) and is vital to Pakistan's WC chances. So I'm glad he is turning his focus to limited-overs cricket where he has been most successful.
 
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Sarwar89 said:
Highlight of his Test cricket tenure was magnificent 151 in 2nd innings against England’s powerful attack.
Click to expand...

Match-changing innings while rest of the batting was collapsing. Easily the best innings of his career
 
Mohammad Hafeez announced retirement from Test Cricket





Lahore December 4, 2018: All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect. He has made the following statement on the occasion.


“Today I want to announce my retirement from the Test match format so that I can focus my energies on playing for Pakistan in the white ball formats. I am eyeing to represent Pakistan in the ICC World Cup next year.


I feel honoured that I represented the country in 55 Test matches including the opportunity of captaining the team, I feel satisfied that I performed to the best of my abilities in my 15 year-long Test career.


I wish the Test team the very best for their upcoming assignments starting with the tour to South Africa, the team management especially the coach and captain have worked very hard in forming an exciting core of players that can serve for long.”


Message from Chairman PCB:



Chairman PCB Mr. Ehsan Mani has congratulated Muhammad Hafeez on his Test career which includes 10 centuries and 12 half-centuries, besides accumulating a tally of 53wickets.



“Hafeez gave some memorable and matching winning performances for Pakistan in the Test match format; he lent great balance to the eleven with his bowling abilities. His contribution in Test cricket would be remembered for long time. I wish him the very best for the remainder of his international career.”
 
Don't have the time to write an essay to try to defend one of the most despicable players in Pakistani history in an attempt to gain some attention but what I will say is, it's always good to see retirements at the right time. Hafeez should have retired before this series so that his replacement would have a taste of test cricket before the SA tour (which is totally not coincidentally happening a month from now) but he recognises he's no longer good enough and will step down for better players to assume his position in the team.
 
Mubarak Everyone Mubarak. This is the best news of 2018, hope he stick to it and its not just for the Africa tour.
 
SarfiBabarHaris said:
Shan is a mediocre player and weak against fast bowling.

I am not buying this recent hype that he is scoring in list As. He will fail in SA.

On other side, Abid has a decent defensive technique and has scored on green pitches of Islamabad as an opener in last few seasons. I would definitely prefer Abid. It was ideal time to give him a go in this series against NZ.
Click to expand...

Shan might be cut out for limited-overs cricket but he will fail miserably if he plays another test. Abid Ali deserves a shot, he has been consistent in domestic and for the A team.
 
I respect his decision to call it a day as his biggest critic. Takes a man to own up to his shortcomings and make way for someone better to do the job. Best wishes.
 
The PCB Facebook page played a video that was recorded via someone's mobile of him sending out a retirement message. This message clearly didnt catch the PCB off guard or by surprise as they seem to be very well prepared in publishing it.

I think he must have been told by a PCB official to leave graciously whilst he can as they do not see a future with him. He has retired a year or two late. Should have solely focussed on ODI's and T20 just as Malik did.
 
If he had any intention of retiring he should have left before this series so that a new opener could be tried in this series. Not only did we have the team have to suffer his poor performance but we will be going into the South Africa series with a debutante opener (or back to Shan Masood).
 
Rana said:
Whose next? Azhar Ali retirement countdown thread??
Click to expand...

It is the only thing he has left in his career. He will hold onto it for years to come.

I think the next Pakistani player to announce his retirement would be Wahab, other than of course Malik and Hafeez retiring altogether after the World Cup.
 
He has been below average in the past 5 Tests, but Hafeez had a 53 average at a SR of 60 in the UAE in Tests before this home season. That is world class - at least by Pakistani standards easily.

I'm happy that he isn't going to SA now but let's not take away his valuable contributions to Pakistan in Tests in the UAE.

The fact that Hafeez had to retire at age 38 reflects more on the standard of our young batsmen coming in rather than on Hafeez. If we had a good batting system that threw up more Babar Azam's at the very least, then Hafeez would've been history 5 years ago. But none of our youngsters grabbed the opportunity when provided with one to cement themselves at the top of the order which is why Hafeez kept coming back.

And if our system keeps producing trash, then when Hafeez retires from ODI, people here will be reminiscing of the days when Hafeez would lend great balance to the side and be such an effective member of the team.

I'm not a great fan of Hafeez but I appreciate his services to Pakistan cricket over the years. His 150+ against England in the 2nd innings in the UAE remains of the great UAE knocks ever.
 
Mamoon said:
Very selfish of him to retire after playing the best innings of the season (first Test, Australia) and knowing that regardless of his poor form, he can force his way back into the team because the hyped up youngsters who will replace him will inevitably fail, as we saw in the Asia Cup.

He simply cannot win. I have personally accepted the reality that he makes our team in all formats on batting merit. He is not a great player by any stretch, but he is more than decent for our pathetic standards.

He is the only opener we have who can score big at a fluent rate, and yes he was never going to do well in South Africa, which opener in the country today has the skill, confidence and temperament to handle Rabada, Steyn and Philander in South Africa?

I am indifferent towards his retirement because I don’t think it makes us any worse of better. With or without him, we are a mediocre, low ranked team and will remain so.

The series in South Africa will be a 3-0 whitewash regardless of which set of batsmen play. The myth that we are a better Test team without him will be busted just like in Limited Overs.

People should have enough nerve and respect to at least appreciate him for retiring when he could easily have forced his way back for the UAE/Asia Tests, because his replacement, some random batsman with a “talent spotter” thread on PP is unlikely to uproot any trees.

Same goes for Malik as well. He could easily have stretched his Test career in Asia for years. It may not be what we want to hear, but not everything that Hafeez and Malik do is selfish.

I personally respect him for making this call and not stretching his career further. Well done and let the detractors fume because their script of Hafeez forcing his way on the plane to South Africa has been derailed.

They were brushing themselves and doing bhangra over how Hafeez was going to fail in South Africa, and were coming up with fantasy dismissals, but he has proved to be a bigger and more dignified man than all of these little souls.

Well done on a respectable career. One of the most underrated Pakistani players in recent times, and has played some excellent knocks in Asian Tests. On his day, our best batsman in the UAE of his time (excluding Younis of course).
Click to expand...

Boy, you really do love being a contrarian, its ok, seen many people with that disorder.
 
It's sad how it's come about but was also inevitable. Steyn must be gutted though.
 
To be fair to him he did give us 5-6 years good years and deserves appreciation even if he did carry on past his sell by date.

Thank you Hafeez, when things got really tough for PCT you helped the team ride the storm.
 
Heisenberg111 said:
Boy, you really do love being a contrarian, its ok, seen many people with that disorder.
Click to expand...

You can say what you want, but I fail to see how this is a selfish decision.

He could have continued playing in the UAE for a couple of more years because Mickey and the PCB will not play hardball with him. They tried to do that in the Asia Cup and got owned.

Furthermore, his record as a batsman in the UAE is actually very good, and not many so-called young stalwarts are going to better his UAE numbers.

People are simply upset because they have been trolled by him yet again, because they did not expect him to retire even in their wildest dreams.
 
Well, everyone got what they wanted. Th guy will not be there to represent Pakistan in Test cricket at least. He will leave you after the World cup as well. Let him be I guess...

As for the current team and new lads, the time is now! Lets see all the talent that was blocked by Hafeez thrive now
 
SarfiBabarHaris said:
Yar i don't think he was even good for Asian conditions at this point in his career as the new ball moves a bit here too.

Plus this line of thinking k play Hafeez here in UAE and try someone else in SA wasn't a smart move imo. Inzi messed it up. Now we will try a young opening combo directly in SA. This was a good time to give Abid a go so that he could have 5-6 innings under his belt before SA tour.
Click to expand...

They should open with Imam-Azhar. And play Fakhar at 6 for quick runs. Babr can bat 5 with Shafiq 4.

I actually believe in winning matches where you can first for Pakistan that's in UAE. Hafeez in ODIs is still a good option in UAE with his bowling and batting so I will play him there. And I will worry about winning in SA and Aus later.
 
Hafeez should have retired after the England tour in 2016, and to all intents and purposes he probably had tacitly given that he hadn't played a test in the two years till this fall. The team panicked after the Asia Cup debacle and recalled him.

I actually think Hafeez has been our best opener since Saeed Anwar retired, and his record bears that out. His 151 against England at Sharjah three years ago was a wonderful innings and won that series for us, I don't think any other Pakistani opener could have played in that manner. It's not his fault that all the other pretenders were woefully incompetent.
 
I dont think I have it in me to watch 3-4 years of Azhar Ali in Test cricket. just a big no for me. It is sad to see a natural flowing batsman like Harris Sohail going down this route also.
 
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