Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez has stepped down from his role as the Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), as reported by Geo News citing sources.
The decision comes following the newly-appointed PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s refusal to meet with Hafeez, who had intended to submit his report regarding the tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Hafeez took over as the director of cricket in November 2023, replacing Mickey Arthur, amidst a significant restructuring within the team’s management after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the Asia Cup 2023 and the World Cup 2023.
Sources indicate that both the PCB and Hafeez have mutually agreed to part ways, with the board showing little interest in continuing to work with the former cricketer.
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In a statement, the PCB expressed gratitude to Mohammad Hafeez for his invaluable contributions, highlighting his passion for the game and mentorship during the tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Hafeez, who has represented Pakistan in 55 Tests, 218 ODIs, and 119 T20Is, accumulating 12,780 runs and 253 wickets, will now pursue other endeavors.
Earlier reports suggested that there were tensions between Hafeez and senior players during the New Zealand tour. Players were reportedly unhappy with Hafeez’s lengthy meetings and strict approach towards team management.
Furthermore, there were issues regarding the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players participating in different leagues. While NOCs were granted for the Indian Premier League (IPL), Hafeez hesitated to issue them for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), jeopardizing players’ contracts.
Sources within the team suggest that if there are no changes in the current approach, the relationship between Hafeez and the players could deteriorate further.
