New Delhi: Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez, who announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday, outlined the lowest point of his cricketing career.
After announcing his retirement, Hafeez, while addressing a press conference in Lahore, said that players found guilty of corruption should never be allowed to play for the national team.
Hafeez said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allowing players accused of match-fixing to represent Pakistan was the “biggest disappointment” of his career.
“For me, the biggest disappointment and injury of my career was when Azhar Ali and I took a principled stand on the issue, but we were told by the chairman of the board that if we don’t want to play, that’s fine, but the players concerned. Will play,” Hafeez told reporters.
“The thing that hurt me the most was when I stood up against the return of match-fixers. When I lodged my protest, the then president told me ‘If you want to play, play. They will play.’
Mohammad Hafeez outlines the lowest point of his Pakistan career. pic.twitter.com/yiSzwTzzbp
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Hafeez clarified that his retirement has nothing to do with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Rameez Raja’s stand that he and Shoaib Malik should have retired after the 2019 World Cup.
“No, I started thinking about my retirement after the 2019 World Cup, but my wife and some well-wishers convinced me to go ahead. But I started thinking from then on.”
Hafeez said, “As far as what Rameez said or felt is his opinion and I have always respected the critics and my method is to go on the field and answer them. I have no hard feelings towards anyone on the board. ” ,
Hafeez, who played 55 Tests, 218 ODIs and 119 T20 Internationals for Pakistan, is ending an international career spanning nearly two decades. He had earlier announced his retirement from Test cricket in December 2018.
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