LAHORE (Daily Point) — Director Mohammad Hafeez of the Pakistan Cricket team remarked on Saturday that Babar Azam, the former captain, is a diligent worker who puts in rigorous training during practice sessions. However, Hafeez emphasized the need for Babar to notch up a substantial innings to regain confidence.
During a post-match press conference in Australia following the Green Shirts’ 3-0 loss in the Test series against Australia, Hafeez stressed the importance of a significant innings in restoring Babar’s confidence. He mentioned that red-ball cricket enhances the sophistication of the game and contributes to the overall skills development of cricketers.
While appreciating Babar’s performance in matches, Hafeez hinted at the possibility of allowing Babar some rest, considering the former skipper’s preferences. The team director emphasized the management’s readiness to assist Babar in any aspect, be it rest or technical improvements.
Addressing the absence of Shaheen Shah Afridi in the third Test, Hafeez clarified that Shaheen voluntarily sought rest due to workload concerns. Hafeez emphasized the management’s commitment to preventing injuries and stated that Shaheen’s absence was not related to the T20 series.
Acknowledging the talent of pacer Naseem Shah, Hafeez mentioned that Aamer Jamal replaced him in the team due to Naseem’s ongoing injury issues. He clarified that the team can function without Naseem, and his injury is not causing significant harm to the team.
Commenting on the team’s performance in the Test series, Hafeez acknowledged that Pakistan played good cricket in Australia. However, he highlighted missed opportunities and mistakes that need correction, citing dropped catches as a factor in the defeat in the Melbourne Test.
In the third Test, Australia defeated Pakistan by eight wickets, ending Pakistan’s aspirations to break a streak of 16 successive losses in Australia since 1995. Hafeez shared plans to propose standard Test fees for all cricket boards to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ensure equal compensation for Test players.
