Mohammad Hafeez was appointed Pakistan’s Team Director after the ICC World Cup 2023 debacle and has been facing criticism since then. However, he decided to bring the truth in front of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and fans.
After his return from New Zealand, Mohammad Hafeez has stirred another controversy by attributing recent defeats in Australia Tests and New Zealand T20Is to player shortcomings, as reported by local media.
‘Players were focused on franchise leagues’
In a meeting with Acting PCB Chairman Shah Khawar, accompanied by PCB’s COO Salman Naseem, Hafeez reportedly expressed disappointment in the team’s performance, highlighting a perceived lack of focus among players.
As previously reported, Mohammad Hafeez’s stringent approach caused discontent among the players during the New Zealand tour.
The discontent was caused due to the long team meetings led by Mohammad Hafeez, which became a point of contention.
Beyond the management issues, senior players were also at loggerheads with Hafeez over the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for BPL and ILT20, which they got later.
However, Hafeez claimed during the meeting with the acting PCB chairman that players seemed to prioritize participation in ongoing franchise T20 leagues over their commitment to the national team’s cause.
This diversion of attention, Hafeez suggested, compromised the team’s performances and contributed to their recent losses.
Will Mohammad Hafeez get an extension?
The meeting also covered the extension of Mohammad Hafeez’s expiring one-month contract, which is currently pending approval.
The PCB, awaiting direction from the Inter-Provincial Ministry, anticipates an official statement regarding the extension shortly.
However, a significant update is the Ministry’s current instruction, which prohibits the board from issuing long-term contracts.
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