Former Pakistan all-rounder and staff director Mohammad Hafeez opined that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are nice gamers, nonetheless, they don’t characterize the entire staff and can’t take complete duty of the staff upon their shoulders.
Hafeez whereas speaking solely with Prime Time News24, has shed his views concerning the latest choice course of, reliance on the Babar-Rizwan duo, challenge of NOCs to gamers for enjoying leagues, and his evaluation of Inexperienced Shirts’ power forward of the T20 World Cup.
He stated, “Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, and Usman Khan are proficient gamers however there’s a systematic course of to be adopted for choice. These gamers ought to have performed home cricket and upon efficiency will need to have been picked for the Pakistan cricket staff. Such parachute choice doesn’t ship a very good message to the home gamers.”
Hafeez was criticised for not being a high-level certified coach throughout his tenure as a director of the Pakistan males’s cricket staff.
Responding to the criticism concerning his teaching abilities, he stated “The method of eradicating me as director of cricket staff was unlucky. I’m a professional level-one coach. Teaching programs are an schooling however not full eligibility to change into a coach. We can not ignore the expertise of worldwide cricket.”
Not too long ago former chairman PCB Najam Sethi claimed native coaches make selections on private relations. “I am actually disenchanted with the assertion of the previous PCB chairman as a result of such a press release has disenchanted many former gamers. Pakistan has received legends of cricket which is admired by the remainder of the world.”
He added, “This can be a slavish mindset of PCB that solely a overseas coach ought to be appointed. I’ve by no means seen any native coach selling nepotism or private suggestions.”
The T20 opening duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan was damaged within the tenure of Hafeez as staff director.
“Babar and Rizwan are nice gamers however don’t characterize the entire Pakistan staff. Babar and Rizwan can not take the entire duty of the staff upon their shoulders. I felt Saim Ayub as an opener was an answer for us. Why present staff administration has retained Saim as an opener if I used to be unsuitable?”
Elaborating his opinions concerning the batting order, “Babar has been batting at quantity three for final seven to eight years. There can be nothing new for Babar to bat at quantity three in T20. Rizwan and Saim as openers adopted by Babar and Fakhar at three will make a robust high order for Pakistan.”
Hafeez additional stated “Babar is a robust batter who is aware of bat in several situations. Saim should play as an opener in T20 WorldCup 2024 regardless of early failures.”
Hafeez sheds gentle on the significance of the strike charge, “Cricket has modified now. You may compromise on consistency however efficiency have to be impactful. Different cricket groups do not depend on single gamers. You may see their totally different gamers giving efficiency in several matches.”
Hafeez disagreed the comparability made between Babar and Virat Kohli. “There may be merely no comparability between these gamers. Kohli has given nice providers and performances for India whereas Babar is doing effectively.”
He additional added “Babar is a implausible participant and may carry enhancements in his recreation. This can be a unsuitable notion that Babar has to carry out all the things. Nonetheless, Babar has to adapt the talents required to play modern-day cricket. Babar is studying rapidly and has understood areas of enchancment. He performed with intent within the final PSL that are good signal.”
An issue fired up concerning the NOC for leagues throughout a latest tour to New Zealand. The gamers had been rumoured to be sad with the choice of PCB concerning the NOC.
Hafeez stated “I used to be wrongly pushed within the matter of the NOC for leagues. I had no hyperlink with such a matter as a result of this was a three-year contract made between PCB and the gamers which allowed them to play two leagues in a yr aside from PSL. In accordance with me, contracts made with the gamers have to be acknowledged. Nonetheless, a participant should at all times prioritise enjoying for his nation.”
Hafeez is optimistic concerning the possibilities of Pakistan’s victory within the upcoming T20 World Cup. “Pakistan has full potential to win T20 World Cup. They solely want confidence. The adjustments within the high hierarchy of PCB do have an effect on the Pakistan cricket staff.”
Hafeez helps Indo-Pak cricket and needs India to go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. “I can be very glad to see India visiting Pakistan for the Champions Trophy as a result of that is greater than only a recreation for Indo-Pak followers. The eyeballs of the world observe Indo-Pak cricket. Politics have to be saved away. India and Pakistan should play one another throughout all three codecs. Each the groups ought to play at impartial venue incase unable to go to one another’s international locations.”
