Former Pakistan team director, Mohammad Hafeez, has broken his silence after being removed from his post, expressing his disappointment over the decision. Hafeez was appointed to the role after the ODI World Cup 2023 and oversaw Pakistan’s challenging tours of Australia and New Zealand, where the team faced defeats in both series. The Test series against Australia ended in a whitewash, while Pakistan suffered a 4-1 series loss in the T20Is against New Zealand.
Questions were raised regarding Pakistan’s poor performance during the Australia tour, leading to scrutiny of Hafeez’s leadership. Despite advocating for discipline within the team, reports emerged that Hafeez himself missed a flight to Melbourne during the Test tour, further tarnishing his image. Additionally, there were reports of discontent among players who felt pressured by Hafeez’s disciplinary measures.
The timing of Hafeez’s removal coincides with the recent changes in PCB chairmanship. While Najam Sethi was replaced by Zaka Ashraf before the ODI World Cup, Hafeez was handed a four-year contract under Ashraf’s regime. However, with Mohsin Naqvi assuming the role of chairman, Hafeez has now been ousted by the new PCB management.
In his response, Hafeez reiterated his commitment to representing Pakistan with dignity and pride, expressing his passion for making positive reforms during his tenure. He expressed disappointment over the curtailment of his designated four-year tenure to just two months due to the change in chairmanship. Despite his removal, Hafeez extended his best wishes for the future of Pakistan cricket and vowed to take responsibility for his actions, promising to reveal all cricketing and non-cricketing factors that may have contributed to the team’s underperformance.
His statement reads,
I always prioritised and represented Pakistan with dignity and Pride. I accepted the new role as a Director PCB with a great passion for making positive reforms but Unfortunately, my designated tenure which was offered by @TheRealPCB for 4 years was cut short for 2 months on the account of New chairmanship. Best wishes for Pakistan’s cricket future. As always, I foremost take responsibility and put myself accountable for all my executions in my given time and will accordingly reveal all the cricketing and other amateur non-cricketing facts which ensure bad performances.
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