Pakistan Cricket Team has been a brewery of controversies, ever since the fiasco at the recent ODI World Cup 2023. The PCB, along with the men's first team, have been under the spotlight, for wrong reasons more than right.
The period of instability saw the appointment, and the dismissal of Mohammad Hafeez, as the Team Director of the Men's senior team. The former Pakistan international was hired ahead of Pakistan's visit to the Oceania continent for series against Australia and New Zealand.
However, Pakistan's underperformance against the two giants saw Hafeez lose his job as the Team Director. Hafeez spoke to Geo News' Arfa Feroz Zake about Pakistan's batting combinations during his tenure as the Director.
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What did Mohammad Hafeez say about Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan?
Mohammad Hafeez was Pakistan's team director of the senior team, for a brief period of three months. During his tenure, Hafeez made the bold decision to break the popular opening combination of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
The duo has been carrying the majority load of Pakistan's batting duties, and have been overburdened with responsibilities across all formats. For the benefit of the country, Hafeez insisted on changing the opening combination.
Not like (Mohammad) Rizwan and Babar (Azam) are not good players. But they are not the complete team. The duo alone cannot take the responsibility of the whole team. We need to give equal opportunity to other batters, utilising their talent to the potential, for the sake of Pakistan cricket, Hafeez stated.
Hafeez added the importance of having a settled top-order for Pakistan. The likes of Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, and Fakhar Zaman, in Hafeez's view, would have provided a solid stability for the future.
Saim Ayub's talent could have been best-utilised as an opener, alongside Mohammad Rizwan. I played Babar at number three, knowing he has played there in ODIs for over seven years. Fakhar Zaman at number four, was already settled in the position. That way, you would have a settled top four in the batting line-up, Hafeez elaborated.
"Babar Azam and Rizwan are not entire Pakistan Cricket Team." #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Yt1qF3eCDO
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) April 26, 2024
MORE: Mohammad Hafeez wants India to play 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan
What next for Pakistan?
Pakistan are scheduled to face New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I of the bilateral series. The game scheduled for April 27, 2024, will be hosted at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
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