"When I wasn't selected in the Asia Cup squad, I had decided to retire" : Mohammad Hafeez

[Abdullah719]

Mohammad Hafeez speaking in the post match show Straight Drive:

"When I wasn't selected in the Asia Cup squad, I had decided to retire and not play further for Pakistan. My goal was to play with respect, but if I am not in the future plans, I should calmly move aside. But it was my wife and friends who convinced me to backtrack"

"I am playing with conviction in any situation and I try to gain momentum with which we can reach a par score"

"All the boys who I have shared a dressing room with for Pakistan since 2003 have all tried to perform to their maximum. The positive thing that I see in the current team is that in pressure situations, they don't back down and instead come on the front foot. They give their fullest and they want to be involved. The fielding has improved a lot and this is Pakistan's best fielding side"

"Whatever I feel, I back myself to the fullest and have no doubts. When you score runs, you gain confidence and your body language and shot selection improves"

 

[CricketDon]

He speaks as if he’s entitled to play for Pakistan. I honestly don’t like him at all.

He speaks as if he’s scoring at the rate and consistency. Yet in reality he’s averaging 30 and can’t buy a run abroad.

 

[InziRules]

Two T20 series and one test later, Hafeez is acting like he's proved something

 

[Hasan123]

So because you wasn't selected for not performing you wanted to retire ? ) )

Disgusting attitude. It shows to me he doesn't think he should have been dropped and it wasn't his fault. Don't want players like this to represent Pakistan. These performances will haunt us for a long time as the revolutionary will select him in all formats because of these performances.

Wanted this guy gone since 2013 and I still want him gone. Can't believe he'll be playing a key role in 2019 WC

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Children moaning again. Reality is without Hafeez we would have got sub 300 in the CT final and wouldn't have won all these T20s the past month.

Crucial player.

 

[Faran96]

So because you wasn't selected for not performing you wanted to retire ? ) )

Disgusting attitude. It shows to me he doesn't think he should have been dropped and it wasn't his fault. Don't want players like this to represent Pakistan. These performances will haunt us for a long time as the revolutionary will select him in all formats because of these performances.

Wanted this guy gone since 2013 and I still want him gone. Can't believe he'll be playing a key role in 2019 WC

With all due respect, I fail to understand why he should be dropped. He is arguably our best batsman in the team right now in all formats. I understand he is not the greatest overseas, but there is a good chance he will still perform better than anyone you mention as a possible replacement. We have to accept that the young batsman coming through in our domestic level are not good enough and Sahibzada Farhaan was the latest example. Also, why should he not be upset that he was dropped from the Asia cup. His performances in the New Zealand ODI’s were better than anyone on our team, and we saw how the replacements did in the Asia cup while he was out of the squad.

 

[Naveedahmed1]

Should only be in middle order when ball is old - can’t play swining ball. Would be more useful than asif for lower middle order / finisher in ODIs.

 

[RickyG]

I don't understand the hate this guy gets. All he said was he thought he should retire if he wasn't a part of the plans for the Pakistan team. That is fair enough.

 

[Pete Rose]

True to form like all Pakistani players. Unable to understand or credit his removal from the game leading to improvement. He will be back to normal once we step off these shores.
I hope Mickey and the selectors are aware that they will need replacements for hafeez and malik right before the World Cup since these two will be disgracing themselves in line with their careers once we leave UAE at the end of this year

 

[Pete Rose]

With all due respect, I fail to understand why he should be dropped. He is arguably our best batsman in the team right now in all formats. I understand he is not the greatest overseas, but there is a good chance he will still perform better than anyone you mention as a possible replacement. We have to accept that the young batsman coming through in our domestic level are not good enough and Sahibzada Farhaan was the latest example. Also, why should he not be upset that he was dropped from the Asia cup. His performances in the New Zealand ODI’s were better than anyone on our team, and we saw how the replacements did in the Asia cup while he was out of the squad.

Arguably is the right word. I mean Obviously it takes special skill to be dismissed by the same bowler 14 times in international cricket

 

[Gullycricket]

Got to admit the balance he adds to the side is crucial.We saw in Asia Cup after Babar our batting was non existent

 

[hussain.r97]

An inform Hafeez brings much-needed balance to the side. If he can stay in form for the World Cup, Pakistan's chances will go up massively. He played a crucial role in the CT final too.

 

[giri26]

I think his career and World cup dreams will be decided in the series against SA where he will face, Steyn & Rabada. There will be Chris Morris and Lungi Ngidi as well. The spin department will have Shamsi and Tahir. If he can pass the Test then he will play for Pakistan for next couple of years in all formats.

 

[Faran96]

Arguably is the right word. I mean Obviously it takes special skill to be dismissed by the same bowler 14 times in international cricket

I don’t understand why it’s such an embarrassing thing to be the bunny of an ATG Bowler like Dale Steyn. Also, he was often opening the batting and that is not the right position for him.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Q: What changes do you feel you need to make to continue your form from the 20 over format into the 50 over format?<br><br>Mohammad Hafeez: None<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvNZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvNZ</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1059164188638097408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Hasan123]

With all due respect, I fail to understand why he should be dropped. He is arguably our best batsman in the team right now in all formats. I understand he is not the greatest overseas, but there is a good chance he will still perform better than anyone you mention as a possible replacement. We have to accept that the young batsman coming through in our domestic level are not good enough and Sahibzada Farhaan was the latest example. Also, why should he not be upset that he was dropped from the Asia cup. His performances in the New Zealand ODI’s were better than anyone on our team, and we saw how the replacements did in the Asia cup while he was out of the squad.

He is being selected for ODIs based on his T20 performances . He should been selected based on 50 over performances. Now that he is back in , he won't be dropped for a while. I just want Pakistan cricket to move on. Other than his CT final knock he has failed in ICC touemamtes and his stats outside of Asia were rubbish even in his peak . At 37, you really think they will be much better?

Everyone is saying bat him at 5 or 6. Firstly the number 4 slot is open since Malik and Sarfraz would prefer to bat down the order . And secondly he is use to batting in the top 3 , so having to adjust in ODIs won't be easy for him.

 

[Abdullah719]

Hafeez wants to serve Pakistan cricket with dignity

LAHORE: Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has said that he wants to serve Pakistan cricket with respect in the remaining years of his career. Speaking in an exclusive interview, the 38-year-old said his first priority is to represent Pakistan cricket rather than pursuing alternate options. “I want to serve Pakistan team with respect and my first priority is always to represent my country although there are parallel options available,” he said. Hafeez also said that had it not been for his friends and family, he would have taken retirement from the game altogether after being left out of the side. “The attitude of some people with me was totally unacceptable which is why I started pondering over taking retirement but my family and close friends motivated me to stay positive and ensure that I end my career on the field,” he said.

Hafeez was declared player of the series in the recently concluded three-match T20I series against New Zealand. Talking about his performances since comeback, he cited confidence as a major reason behind his success. “I’m glad that that through my performances Pakistan is winning,” he said. “A key factor behind my performance since comeback is improved confidence and also knowing that this is my last chance with the Pakistan team.”

He added: “Throughout my career I have tried to respond to my critics through performances on the field and it’s the same this time around.” The 38-year-old also stated that he won’t retire unless there is a proper replacement available – who can serve Pakistan cricket for a long duration. “When you put your heart and soul into something for so many years, it is important to end on a high and I have the same intention,” he said. “I’m not going to leave cricket solely on my own terms as I want to ensure that whenever I leave there is a proper replacement who can take my place for the next ten years.”

Hafeez also pointed out the difficulties he has faced while bowling with a remodeled action. “It is difficult to bowl with the same impact with a remodeled bowling action,” he said. “In order to avoid being reported for suspect bowling action once again, I keep on analysing my bowling action thoroughly after every match.” Sharing his thoughts on playing all three formats of the game, Hafeez said that there is little pressure of this unless until his form and fitness deserts him. “I have been playing all three formats of the game for the past eight to ten years so adjustment is not an issue,” he said. “As soon as I am unable to meet the demands of playing every format I will step aside, but for now I think I have the form and fitness to feature in both limited overs and Test cricket.”

Hafeez also stressed on the need for resumption of Indo-Pak cricketing ties. “Performing in an Indo-Pak series generates an entirely different feeling all together no other performance can replace that,” he said. “The series generates a lot of interest whenever it takes place and people and players from both sides of the border miss its absence.” He added: “Politics and cricket should be separate and I hope bilateral series between Pakistan and India begins soon.” Speaking about the dwindling value of Test cricket, Hafeez believes that longest format of the game needs an additional factor of entertainment in order to thrive. “I think there is need for some entertainment aspect in Test cricket in order to lure people towards the stadiums,” he said. “As things stand, only two to three countries experience massive crowds when it comes to Test cricket.”

https://dailytimes.com.pk/318972/hafeez-wants-to-serve-pakistan-cricket-with-dignity/