Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are good players but not the whole team, Mohammad Hafeez

Former captain of Pakistan cricket team Mohammad Hafeez has said that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are good players but not the whole team.

Giving a special interview to Geo News, Mohammad Hafeez said that even in case of failure, Saeem Ayub should be fed as an opener in T20 World Cup.

Regarding the team selection, Mohammad Hafeez said that Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim and Usman Khan are good players but there is a selection process, the three players used to play domestic cricket first and on their performance they would be selected in the national team, if by parachute. If there is a selection, a wrong message will be given to the domestic cricketers.

Mohammad Hafeez said that he was saddened by the allegations of accepting recommendations on Pakistani coaches by the former chairman.

Regarding the criticism of his coaching, he said that I have done the level one coaching course, the coaching course is education, it must be done, but the coaching course is not everything. Put the coach of the national team.

‘The process of removing me was deplorable’

He said that the former PCB chairman stated that the Pakistani coaching staff is not honest, thousands of local coaches were hurt by such a statement, there are legends in Pakistan who are respected by the world.

He said that the experience of international cricket in coaching cannot be ignored, the procedure of removing me from the post of team director was regrettable.

‘People in PCB have a slavish mindset’

The former captain said that people in PCB have a slavish mindset who think that a foreign coach should be the one, I have never seen any local coach accepting the recommendation, such impression is wrong.

Regarding the breakup of the opening pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez said that it is not that Babar and Rizwan are not good players but both are not a complete team. Bringing Saim Ayub as a T20 opener was the solution to the problem in my view.

Feedback on the batting order

He said that Babar and Rizwan cannot carry the burden of the entire team alone, Babar has been batting at number three for the past many years, playing at number three in T20 will not make any difference.

Muhammad Hafeez said that if I had made a mistake by changing the openers, why is Saeem Ayub being given the opener today? If Saim, Rizwan opener, Babar play at number three and Fakhar at four, the top order becomes strong.

He said that Babar Azam is a strong batsman who is capable of playing in every condition, even if Saim fails, he should be given as an opener in the T20 World Cup because he is a bold batsman, not afraid, for such players. Criticism should be tolerated, Saim is a player in all three formats.

Muhammad Hafeez said regarding the strike rate that cricket has changed, the continuity is indeed less but the performance should have an impact, other teams do not depend on one or two players, a new player gives a performance in every match.

Comparison of Babur and Virat

On the comparison of Babar Azam and Virat Kohli, the former captain said that there is no comparison between Babar and Kohli because Kohli’s performances for India are so great, Babar is the best player who has yet to perform more for Pakistan.

He said regarding Babar Azam that such criticism is wrong that Babar Azam has to do everything in batting, Babar has to improve his skills according to modern day cricket, he has come to know where to improve. Played with intent in PSL.

Regarding the NOC on the issue of the leagues on the last tour of New Zealand, Hafeez said that I was unnecessarily included on the issue of the NOC of the leagues, I had nothing to do with the NOC of the leagues of the players.

He said that there was already a three-year contract between the PCB and the players on the issue of leagues, all the players themselves signed a contract to be allowed to play in three leagues apart from the PSL, he blamed me on the issue of leagues. Gaya, I said go according to the contract, the first priority of the players should be to play for their country.

Expectations from Pakistan team in World Cup

Regarding Pakistan’s chances of winning the T20 World Cup, Mohammad Hafeez said that Pakistan’s T20 team is talented, only lack of confidence.

He said that changes in the management of PCB also affect the national cricket team.

Opinion on Pak-India series

Mohammad Hafeez said that if they can’t visit each other’s country, Pakistan-India cricket should be played at a neutral venue.

Regarding the next year’s Champions Trophy, Mohammad Hafeez said that India should come to Pakistan to play the Champions Trophy because Pakistan-India cricket is watched not only by two countries, but by the whole world.

He said that politics should be kept aside and sports should be put in front, cricket of all three formats should be restored between Pakistan and India.

He further said that I would be happy for Pakistan to go to India and India to come to Pakistan.