Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez who was just lately sacked by the PCB because the group director claimed that it took 2 months to persuade star batter and former all-format captain Babar Azam to come back down and bat at quantity 3 with a purpose to facilitate teenager Saim Ayub to pair alongside wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan.
Hafeez made this declare about Babar Azam agreeing to his directions and requests whereas chatting with a neighborhood channel A Sport’s present named The Pavilion which additionally had panelists just like the legendary former left-arm pacer Wasim Akram and one other former captain Misbah-ul-Haq. The present is thought to be one of the vital unbiased and extremely opinionated cricket analytic exhibits on the planet and so they sat collectively to debate concerning the ninth version of PSL.
The dialog began after the host requested Misbah a couple of sure group drafting 7 opening batters within the group, asking concerning the mindset and technique behind this bizarre determination. In response, Mohammad Hafeez who was appointed because the nationwide group director again in November 2023, defined how he managed the Pakistan group which had 6 openers throughout their 5-match T20I collection in New Zealand final month.
It was the primary time in over 2 years that the Inexperienced Military went for a overseas T20 tour with out Babar Azam because the captain. It was additionally Hafeez’s 2nd task with the group after enduring a 3-0 Check collection whitewash in Australia below the captaincy of Shan Masood.
Pakistan had misplaced the New Zealand collection by 4-1 with Shaheen Afridi’s tenure as captain getting off to a horrible begin. Whereas speaking by means of concerning the query requested by the host, Hafeez acknowledged he needed to gamble between 6 opening batters to select from within the taking part in XI, claiming that it’s by no means a straightforward job to hold out.
Hafeez additionally revealed that the majority of upcoming Pakistani batters are reluctant to bat at quantity 5 or 6, making a shortage of batters within the center order earlier than revealing that he requested Babar Azam to come back down at quantity 3.
“Pakistan didn’t have any possibility for the quantity 5 or 6. We choose a lot of the gamers on the premise of their scores and the way a lot runs they accumulate as a result of a lot of the Pakistani gamers need to play as an opener in white ball cricket or at quantity 3. And so they strain is on us as to whom ought to we decide,” Mohammad Hafeez mentioned through A Sports activities.
“This time round throughout the T20Is in New Zealand, we had 6 openers. And the primary two openers Babar and Rizwan have been opening for 3 years, you then convey Fakhar Zaman at 3 so how do you handle the opposite 3 openers? It was a tough process and took me about 2 months to persuade Babar Azam to look as a 1st down,” Hafeez added.
“You’re a nice participant, a beautiful..”, Hafeez applauds Babar Azam
Mohammad Hafeez then went on to applaud Babar Azam for his distinctive approach and contribution to the nationwide facet.
“You’re a nice participant, a beautiful batter and also you’ve been taking part in superb cricket however we additionally should develop the Pakistani group. And for that I would like you to come back at quantity 3 since you’re taking part in this function in ODI cricket for final 6 years. Technically he’s very stable so thanks to him that he accepted my determination and him at 3 is one of the simplest ways to maneuver ahead,” Hafeez concluded.