Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez recently opened up about his stint with the national side as team director and revealed that there were no fitness tests conducted in the team ahead of the Cricket World Cup 2023. During his appearance on the Club Praire Fire podcast with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan, Hafeez also said that the fat percentage had gone up in the players and they were not able to complete some of the fitness exercises. While the allegations did cause quite a stir among fans, former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt was not impressed. Butt said that Hafeez should not have said all this on an international standard and he should have taken steps to rectify the situation during his tenure.

“Maybe, he is saying as it is. But whose job was it to ensure that? You are complaining about your team’s matters on international platforms. You were team director. It was your job to pick the right people,” Butt said on a YouTube show, Cricket Baithak.

“You picked those people who, on their own, may never be there. You didn’t take fitness tests. Who stopped you? Or should I call it incompetence or lack of control? They were your juniors. You couldn’t take the tests?”

“You’re ranting to Adam (Gilchrist), ‘I wanted to do this and do that, but they didn’t listen to me. I was the team director’. For god’s sake, what were you trying to do? No one leaves their job until they’re sacked. Now, you go to an international platform and start complaining there. Why didn’t you say that when you were here?”

“Why didn’t you ask for more power and backing? I don’t know what to agree with or what not to. When someone else played Amir, he was a criminal. But it’s fine when you call him yourself,” he added.

Pakistan crashed out of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the group stage after losing to United States and India.

The Pakistan cricket over the new few months is expected to go through ‘major surgery’, as said by Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi. Successive poor shows in the ODI World Cup 2023 and the 2024 T20 World Cup, has put a big question mark on the Babar Azam-led Pakistan. This time around the reaction to the exit is stronger because Pakistan started the tournament with an unexpected loss against debutants USA. Then they loss against India. The two losses proved to be Pakistan’s nemesis as they were knocked out despite winning their last two encounters.    

Question marks have been raised on Pakistan’s intent with a viral quote from coach Gary Kirsten saying that there ‘there is no unity’ in the Pakistan team.

Now, former Pakistan cricket team captain selected Mohammad Hafeez has raised question marks on the culture inside the dressing room of the side. He narrated an incident involving several Pakistan players inside the dressing room.

“If a player is sleeping in a dressing room and we are playing Test cricket. If 4-5 players are sleeping in the dressing room, should I allow that as a selector?” Hafeez said in an online interaction with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan.

Then Vaughan asked, “Were they tired?”

Hafeez replied: “I really don’t know. I went into the dressing room and found 4-5 players are sleeping in the dressing room while playing Test cricket. I was like, “how come you guys can do that?” If you do something like this, you cannot be a part of this team. I want you guys to stay focussed during the game and then off the game, whatever you guys do, it is your own life, I never get involved in it. But in professional timings of the game, I want you guys to focus on the game. Stay in touch. If you are a fast bowler, you can have a rest, a good ice bath but you need to concentrate on the game of cricket, like how the other team is also doing. You cannot switch yourself off during the game, but unfortunately the media didn’t like it.”

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has questioned star batter Babar Azam for failing to step up his game during ICC events. Hafeez’s remark comes after Babar failed to help Pakistan qualify for the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup. While Babar did saw Pakistan home in their final group match against Ireland, fans and experts questioned his approach during the match. Chasing 107 to win, Pakistan kept losing wickets at the other end. However, Babar hit a cautious 32 not out off 34 balls to rescue some pride for Pakistan.

Hafeez expressed his concern over Babar’s form at ICC events, and questioned if the same is due to the burden of captaincy.

“I feel sorry for Babar Azam. For a quality player like him, to have a major dip during ICC events is a big concern. And only Babar Azam can answer this. Is it because of his captaincy?,” Hafeez asked while speaking on PTV Sports.

Hafeez suggested that only Babar can explain the reason behind his struggles to perform at ICC events.

“I want him to be the highest run-getter for Pakistan and he has that capacity. But when it comes to bilateral series, Babar is on top but in ICC event he is so low down. So this big dip in form is cause for concern and only Babar can answer it or maybe someone else,” he added.

“The knock was very good against Ireland. Wickets were falling at the other end and as a senior pro, it’s your responsibility to stay till the end and see off the game,” Hafeez explained.

Fans and analysts have criticised Pakistsan team management for not picking the right players for the World Cup.

The 2024 edition marked a dramatic fall for Pakistan from the last World Cup two years ago, when they reached the final.

Pakistan are due to host next year’s Champions Trophy, and there are calls for a major shake-up in the team and the management.

(With AFP Inputs)