Pakistan Cricket Team’s Director, Mohammad Hafeez, has stated that former captain Babar Azam, despite being a hard worker who trains diligently, needs to play a “big” innings to regain confidence. Hafeez made these comments during a post-match press conference in Australia after Pakistan lost the third and final Test match against the Australians.
Hafeez emphasized the significance of a significant innings to boost Babar’s confidence and suggested that red-ball cricket, which adds sophistication to the game, has the potential to elevate a player’s skills across formats.
While acknowledging Babar’s good performances, Hafeez hinted at the possibility of letting him rest if needed, emphasizing the importance of considering the player’s wishes.
Also Read: ‘Babar Azam Should Take Some Rest Like Virat Kohli’, Former Spinner Mushtaq Ahmed
Hafeez also discussed the decision to rest Shaheen Shah Afridi, stating that the pacer sought rest due to workload concerns. He clarified that Shaheen’s absence in the third Test was not related to the T20 series but was a precautionary measure to prevent injuries and not jeopardize his career.
Additionally, Hafeez commented on the replacement of fast bowler Naseem Shah with Aamer Jamal, mentioning that Naseem is dealing with an injury. He assured that the team can function without Naseem, and the decision was made considering the player’s well-being.
Reflecting on the team’s performance in the Test series against Australia, Hafeez noted that Pakistan played good cricket but failed to capitalize on crucial moments. He highlighted the impact of dropped catches in the Melbourne Test and stressed the importance of correcting mistakes for future improvements.
Australia won the third Test against Pakistan by eight wickets, marking the end of Pakistan’s hopes to break a streak of 16 successive losses in Australia since 1995.
Hafeez also mentioned plans to share a proposal with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding Test cricket remuneration. The proposal aims to establish standard Test fees for all cricket boards, ensuring equal compensation for all Test players.
