NEW DELHI: Following Pakistan’s early elimination from the T20 World Cup, former captain Mohammed Hafeez has publicly criticised the Pakistan cricket team, citing examples of lack of discipline during his brief tenure as director of cricket.
Hafeez, who served as director and interim head coach from November 2023 to February 2024, raised his concerns during an interview with former cricketers Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist on the Club Prairie Fire podcast.
T20 World Cup: Schedule | Points Table
Talking about an incident where he found several players sleeping in the dressing room during a Test match, he said, “Gillie (Gilchrist), please tell me if players are sleeping in the dressing room during Test matches. Four-five players are sleeping in the dressing room. As a team director, should I allow that?”
He stressed that players’ personal lives are their own, but that during designated team time it is paramount that they focus fully on the game.
“I went to the dressing room and there were four-five players sleeping in the dressing room during a Test match. I thought, ‘how can you guys allow that?’. If you do things like this, you cannot be part of this team. I want you to stay focused during and outside the match. Whatever you do, it is your life. I will never get involved in that. But during professional timings of the match, I want you to stay focused on the game,” the former Pakistan all-rounder added.
Hafeez’s term as Director of Cricket will end on February 15, 2024, marking a mutual parting of ways with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
His tenure coincided with a difficult period for Pakistan cricket, with the team losing the Test series against Australia 3-0 and the T20 series against New Zealand 4-1.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan suffered consecutive losses to the USA and India, resulting in early elimination from the tournament.
Hafeez, who served as director and interim head coach from November 2023 to February 2024, raised his concerns during an interview with former cricketers Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist on the Club Prairie Fire podcast.
T20 World Cup: Schedule | Points Table
Talking about an incident where he found several players sleeping in the dressing room during a Test match, he said, “Gillie (Gilchrist), please tell me if players are sleeping in the dressing room during Test matches. Four-five players are sleeping in the dressing room. As a team director, should I allow that?”
He stressed that players’ personal lives are their own, but that during designated team time it is paramount that they focus fully on the game.
“I went to the dressing room and there were four-five players sleeping in the dressing room during a Test match. I thought, ‘how can you guys allow that?’. If you do things like this, you cannot be part of this team. I want you to stay focused during and outside the match. Whatever you do, it is your life. I will never get involved in that. But during professional timings of the match, I want you to stay focused on the game,” the former Pakistan all-rounder added.
Hafeez’s term as Director of Cricket will end on February 15, 2024, marking a mutual parting of ways with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
His tenure coincided with a difficult period for Pakistan cricket, with the team losing the Test series against Australia 3-0 and the T20 series against New Zealand 4-1.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan suffered consecutive losses to the USA and India, resulting in early elimination from the tournament.
