Mohammad Hafeez Archives

Mohammad Hafeez calls on PCB to focus more on red-ball cricket

Former captain Mohammad Hafeez has called on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to shift its focus back to red-ball cricket, following the victory over South Africa in the first Test at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Pakistan’s 93-run win gave them a 1–0 lead in the two-match series, a statement performance against the reigning world Test champions.

Noman Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi starred with the ball, combining for eight wickets in the second innings to bowl the visitors out for 183 while defending a target of 277.

Taking to the social media platform X, Mohammad Hafeez emphasised that a stronger red-ball structure holds the key to resolving Pakistan’s long-standing issues in other formats as well.

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“All formats technical & tactical issues will be resolved if we pay detail attention to red ball cricket of Pakistan,” Hafeez wrote.

“PCB management should prioritise red ball cricket at all levels. Best wishes Mohsin Naqvi.”

Hafeez, who has represented Pakistan in all formats, believes red-ball cricket remains the foundation of technical discipline and mental toughness, qualities that inevitably strengthen performances in shorter versions of the game.

Notably, Pakistan will now look to seal the series when they face South Africa in the second and final Test, scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi from October 20 to 24.

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Former Pakistan captain questions ‘key player’ tag for Babar, Rizwan

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has raised doubts over the status of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan as “key players” for the national side, suggesting that others in the current setup are more deserving of the title.

Babar and Rizwan endured a poor run in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against the West Indies, while both remain out of Pakistan’s T20I plans since December 2024.

Babar managed scores of 47, 0, and 9 across the three games, while Rizwan posted 53, 16, and 0.

Speaking on a local YouTube channel, Mohammad Hafeez argued that being labelled a key player requires winning matches for the team, something he feels Babar and Rizwan have failed to deliver in recent years.

“Calling them key players would be wrong and unfair. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not Pakistan cricket’s key players at the moment. Key players are those who win matches for Pakistan,” said Hafeez.

“If we look at the past year and a half to two years, the players showing consistent performance are Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, and Hasan Nawaz.”

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The former all-rounder went on to question whether Babar and Rizwan even justify their spots in the XI at present.

“I think Babar and Rizwan need to be concerned about their positions in the team,” said Mohammad Hafeez.

“They need to prove themselves as good players first; key players come later. Both were good in the past, but now they are not delivering results.”

Hafeez extended his criticism to Pakistan’s leading pacers as well, insisting Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi have also fallen short of delivering match-winning contributions.

He concluded by stressing that Pakistan cricket should focus less on reputation and more on building a core of consistent performers for the next decade.

“We should focus on players who can contribute for the next 10–15 years. Our media hypes and criticises the wrong people; we need to talk about those who are actually performing,” he added.

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Mohammad Hafeez provides update on Shahid Afridi’s availability for WCL 2025 final

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan Champions captain Mohammad Hafeez on Friday provided an update on ace all-rounder Shahid Afridi ahead of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 final against South Africa.

Former all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who is part of the Pakistan Champions squad, is yet to feature in a match due to fitness concerns.

Speaking during a media interaction ahead of the WCL 2025 final, Hafeez rued Afridi’s absence, hinting at his inclusion for the summit clash tomorrow.

“It is very unfortunate regarding him that he is still not feeling very well, but today I’m really happy that he tried his level best. He is trying every day, but if we feel that we can get an impactful contribution from him, then we will definitely consider him,” he said.

The Pakistan Champions remained unbeaten throughout the league stage fixtures, topping the points table. Green Shirts advanced to the final for the second time in the event’s history after the India Champions’ forfeiture.

“First of all, I am really proud of the efforts from each and every one during our campaign, Mohammad Hafeez stated while praising the team spirit.

Every player took responsibility and followed three important points, which were integrity, respect, and the spirit of the game. We hit all of them,” he added.

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Hafeez, who himself had a decent run with the bat, highlighted the challenge players faced and praised everyone for their contribution.

“We played excellent cricket throughout the tournament, and it was by no means fun cricket. It was very demanding, and everyone was very focused on delivering,” Hafeez said in a lighthearted manner.

One question regarding the playing XI, Hafeez said, they will finalize the lineup after assessing the conditions.

“Look, we did not assess the conditions yet. We’ll analyse the provided conditions tomorrow, and since all of our players are ready, so we will field our best composition,” Hafeez concluded.

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Pakistan Champions name new captain ahead of WCL 2025

Former captain and star all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is set to lead the Pakistan Champions squad in the upcoming World Championship of Legends (WCL) season 2, set to be played from July 18 to August 2, 2025.

Pakistan Champions announced the decision through a post on their social media accounts.

“The Professor takes the charge,” read the post. “We’re proud to announce Mohammad Hafeez as the Captain of Pakistan Champions for Season 2.”

The Pakistan Champions’ squad will also feature Sarfaraz Ahmed, the captain who led the team to victory in the Champions Trophy 2017.

For the unversed, the WCL 2025 will be contested across four English venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), County Ground (Northampton), Grace Road (Leicester), and Headingley (Leeds).

Six teams, India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, will face off in a round-robin format, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

The upcoming edition marks the second instalment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, where the Indian team, led by the legendary Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.

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During the inaugural season, Younis Khan-led Pakistan were among the standout teams, producing dominant performances throughout the group stage.

They opened their campaign with a clinical win over Australia before thrashing the West Indies.

One of the tournament’s most iconic moments came in their clash against India, where Pakistan racked up a mammoth 243/4 and then restricted their arch-rivals to 175/9.

Their only group-stage defeat came against South Africa, but the Men in Green bounced back strong, sealing a semi-final win against the West Indies by 20 runs to set up a high-stakes final against India.

Despite a spirited effort, Pakistan Champions fell just short in the final. After setting a target of 157, they couldn’t prevent India from chasing it down with five wickets and five balls to spare.

READ: Australia Champions name star-studded squad for WCL 2025

Hafeez shares advice for Usman Khan, Sahibzada Farhan to cement T20I spot

Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez shared key advice for top-order batters Usman Khan and Sahibzada Farhan to succeed at the international level and cement a permanent place in the national T20I team.

The former captain recently launched a fan-engagement campaign titled #AskProfessor on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, where he responded to questions from cricket followers, offering insights into various aspects of Pakistan cricket.

During the session, Hafeez didn’t hold back from praising young batting talents Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub, calling them the future of Pakistan cricket.

“Abdullah Shafiq & Saim Ayub are the future of Pakistan cricket. May they stay away from all distractions,” he wrote.

Despite Pakistan’s recent run of inconsistent performances, Hafeez made it clear that he continues to back the Men in Green with full passion.

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“It hurts as a fan when Pakistan doesn’t do well, but I support them unconditionally and always want the team to succeed,” he shared.

When asked about the highly debated topic of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s place in the T20 side, Mohammad Hafeez acknowledged their past contributions but advised them to evolve with the modern game.

“Babar and Rizwan are quality players who have played vital roles in winning matches for Pakistan. They just need to upgrade their approach and skills to become more impactful. They have the talent to do that.”

Hafeez also stood up for Mohammad Rizwan, who has recently been the target of online criticism for his English-speaking skills.

“Sad to see people shaming a star for his language ability. Very sad,” he remarked.

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When questioned about what advice he would offer to Babar Azam, Hafeez gave a short but meaningful response: “Keep learning.”

On the Usman Khan vs Sahibzada Farhan debate, Hafeez didn’t pick one over the other but stressed that both need to focus on their fundamentals to thrive at the top level.

“First thing [that] gets challenged at professional level is ur TECHNIQUE. Need to improve it every day,” he stated.

Looking ahead to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Hafeez placed his confidence in Saim Ayub as one of Pakistan’s opening batters, reiterating his belief in the left-hander’s potential.

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Shoaib Akhtar reacts sharply to Mohammad Hafeez’s comments on 90s cricketers

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has taken a subtle dig at Mohammad Hafeez for his recent remarks questioning the legacy of Pakistan’s cricketers from the 1990s.

While speaking in a cricket show, Akhtar didn’t hold back, calling out what he believed was an unnecessary and disrespectful take aimed at some of Pakistan’s greatest-ever cricketers.

Referring to a now-viral clip, the Rawalpindi Express responded to Hafeez’s alleged comment that the stars of the 90s “didn’t leave behind any legacy.”

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Shoaib Akhtar, with his trademark sarcasm, questioned: “He [Hafeez] said, ‘Sir, you didn’t leave a legacy.’ He’s saying that to Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis? Then who did leave a legacy? You?”

Akhtar’s retort came amid growing backlash against Mohammad Hafeez, who had remarked that while 90s cricketers were superstars individually, they failed to inspire the nation through collective success, particularly in ICC tournaments.

“I’m a big admirer of the 90s greats,” he said. “But when we speak of legacy, it’s about results — they didn’t win an ICC trophy.”

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He further clarified that his intention was never to belittle individual legends but to highlight the lack of team achievements during that era.

“Some media houses are fabricating the actual content. The context of the discussion was all about teams winning ICC events to inspire future generations,” Hafeez later posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The former all-rounder further explained that his statement was not a personal attack on any individual player but rather an analysis of Pakistan’s inability to secure ICC titles during that period.

“Therefore, I explained how the greats of the game from Pakistan, despite all their cricketing talent, couldn’t win ICC events (post-’92 WC) in 1996, 1999, and 2003. It was never personal criticism of any individual player,” he added.

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Mohammad Hafeez responds to backlash over comments on 90s cricketers

Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has hit back at criticism over his recent remarks about cricketers from the 1990s, insisting that his words were misrepresented by the media.

Hafeez had earlier pointed out that while Pakistan had several megastars in the 90s, they were unable to secure an ICC trophy after the 1992 World Cup.

“I am a big admirer of the cricketers from that [90s] era, but when we talk about their legacy, it’s clear they couldn’t win an ICC tournament,” Hafeez had said during an appearance on a TV show.

“They were part of the World Cups in 1996, 1999, and 2003, and despite our strong performances, we lost each time. In fact, we only reached the final in 1999, and that loss was a heavy one.”

His comments, however, triggered a strong backlash from former cricketers and fans, many of whom felt that Mohammad Hafeez was discrediting the contributions of the 90s greats.

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Following the reaction, Hafeez went to social media on Monday to clarify his stance, emphasizing that his words had been taken out of context.

“Some media houses are fabricating the actual content. The context of the discussion was all about teams winning ICC events to inspire future generations,” Hafeez posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

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Mohammad Hafeez reveals Pakistan’s two ‘most valuable players’

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has expressed his concerns about the national team’s current performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, stating that it is going through a difficult phase.

Mohammad Hafeez’s comments came after Pakistan’s disappointing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 performance.

For the unversed, the hosts and defending champions, Pakistan, crashed out of the tournament after successive defeats at the hands of New Zealand and India.

The Men in Green’s final group game against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain, leaving the 2017 edition winners without a win in their first ICC event hosted in nearly three decades.

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Pakistan finished last in Group A behind Bangladesh, with just one point and a negative Net Run Rate (-1.087).

In a recent cricket show, Mohammad Hafeez praised Salman Ali Agha and Saim Ayub as the Pakistan team’s ‘most valuable players’.

Mohammad Hafeez recalled his experience as the director of the Pakistan team for two months, during which he ‘gave’ opportunities to young players like Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, and Saim Ayub in the Australia tour.

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“When I joined the team as a director, there was perception that the team’s bench strength was not ready,” he said.

He further mentioned that players like Saim Ayub and Agha Salman were included, but there were questions raised about their inclusion in the team.

“We brought in players such as Saim Ayub and Agha Salman, but at the time, there were questions about why these selections were made.”

“Their inclusion prompted protests. Following that, we experimented with different players; however, many others did not get a chance to play across various formats,” Hafeez concluded.

READ: Pakistan set unwanted records after Champions Trophy early exit

Hafeez wants Pakistan to move on from Shaheen, Haris, Naseem

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez lashed out at pacers Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah over their recent struggles in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Pakistan suffered a crushing six-wicket defeat on Sunday against the arch-rivals India, leaving their title defence hanging by a thread.

While batting first, Pakistan managed a modest 241 before getting bowled out in the final over. In reply, India cruised to victory with 45 balls to spare, thanks to a masterclass from Virat Kohli, who notched up a brilliant century.

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After the match, Mohammad Hafeez called for major changes in Pakistan’s bowling attack, highlighting the recent failures of fast bowlers.

“The trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf failed to deliver in the 2023 Asia Cup, 50-over World Cup, T20 World Cup, and now in the Champions Trophy 2025,” Hafeez said.

“It’s time to acknowledge that, despite their talent, they haven’t proven themselves capable of winning big tournaments for Pakistan.

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“Let’s move on and give opportunities to other bowlers like Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Akif Javed, and Mir Hamza. These players are waiting for their chances—they are also Pakistani, and they deserve an opportunity.”

Mohammad Hafeez also drew comparisons between Babar Azam and former great Inzamam-ul-Haq. He pointed out that Babar has failed to produce a match-winning performance against India in a decade-long career.

“Inzamam bhai used to win matches for Pakistan in tough conditions. Babar Azam has not been able to win a single game against India after playing for 10 years,” Hafeez remarked.

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Former Pakistan captain questions Babar Azam’s match-winning ability

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has raised questions over the impact of star batter Babar Azam in the high-pressure games after the national team’s defeat against India in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2024.

The six-wicket loss on Sunday has left the hosts in a precarious position, leaving their title defence hanging by a thread.

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Speaking on a TV show, Mohammad Hafeez drew comparisons between Babar and former great Inzamam-ul-Haq. He pointed out that Babar has failed to produce a match-winning performance against India in a decade-long career.

“Inzamam bhai used to win matches for Pakistan in tough conditions. Babar Azam has not been able to win a single game against India after playing for 10 years,” Hafeez remarked.

He further highlighted Babar’s lack of standout performances in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries, stressing that great players don’t just contribute, but dominate.

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“He [Babar] has no player of the series awards in SENA countries. Forget about the team winning or losing, you should be the player of the series,” Mohammad Hafeez added.

The former all-rounder also believes it’s time for Pakistan to look beyond underperforming players and start backing domestic performers who have been waiting for their chances.

“We need to realize these things and show him the mirror. We need to move on from the players who aren’t delivering as expected,” he added.

“It’s time to give opportunities to players who have been performing in domestic cricket. And of course, the same players will become heroes again in the PSL.”

READ: Wasim Akram lashes out at Pakistan cricket team after loss against India