"People who saw me training would laugh at me" : Mohammad Hafeez

[MenInG]

Mohammad Hafeez speaking on Instagram

“Back in 2007, I was not able to perform well and critics had formed an opinion that I was not cut for international cricket"

“Such opinions are very hard to change and it led to one of the most difficult periods of my life.”

“Despite the criticism, I kept on putting in the hard yards and did not lose hope. People who saw me training used to laugh at me as they believed that a failed player like me was wasting their time"

“Between 2007 and 2010, I worked really hard on my game and more importantly I realised that I had no one to blame but myself. This made a more professional and as soon as I started playing international cricket regularly again, I became a much-improved player"

“Working hard is the only way to succeed in life.”

[Zaz]

I guess success is all relative I wouldnt call his career a success but then again im not in his shoes

Avging 30 odd after so many years probably can count as a success in his eyes seeing as though he avged pretty much in his teens early in his career

But for most the bar to success keeps moving and being pushed upwards

Take for example babar Its not enough for him to be a permanent member of the team like hafeez He has the hunger to keep reaching and aiming higher

Thats real success Not getting lazy and thinking youve made it

[Junaids]

I still laugh at him every time he goes out to bat or to chuck.

Only one batsman in 143 years of Test cricket has an even worse record outside Asia than Mohammad Hafeez.

He’s the second worst batsman in 143 years.

We should laugh. He’s rubbish.

[Rana]

Could have been an ATG (with the bat), massive under achiever.

[uberkoen]

Could have been an ATG (with the bat), massive under achiever.

Didn't really have the skills/talent for it. Came into the team when jack of all trades type players were the norm and the likes of Razzaq and Azhar were on their way out. Stayed in the team due to being a 'senior'. He has had some nice performances but nothing worthy of note. He's always been a mediocre player at best.

[Mir jibran]

Could have been an ATG (with the bat), massive under achiever.

Thats because he always thought he was perfect and didnt need to imrpove and the worst part is that he thought of himself as a top order batsman which he never was

[sweep_shot]

He was alright in ODI but not great in Test.

He probably underachieved.

[jeeteshssaxena]

I still laugh at him every time he goes out to bat or to chuck.

Only one batsman in 143 years of Test cricket has an even worse record outside Asia than Mohammad Hafeez.

He’s the second worst batsman in 143 years.

We should laugh. He’s rubbish.

Who's the worst?

[moghul]

Pakistan invested on him for many many years.

He was given way too many chances, don't know why.

Over all, he will be remembered as a failure, failed as batsman particularly in overseas condition and only success he got as bowler when he chucked, which is nothing but cheating.

Smart guy, he knew how to be in good books of important people, selectors and people in PCB.

[sjahmed23]

When he is batting in flow it's a treat to watch but his problem, like many other Pakistani batsmen has been temperament and focus. Coaches can't teach you that stuff, you have to build it up yourself through daily habits.

[King-Misbah]

He is a good batsman, not the best as he doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes. Examples can be seen from the world cup when he got out the same way in each match. He is talented, his bowling was really good. He is under rated, ofcourse he has issue vs Steyn. I believe we should appreciate his efforts as he played a stunning knock in the CT too.

[Mamoon]

A player who is both underrated and overrated. Nevertheless, it is time to retire.

[WhenSultansBowled]

Hafeez debuted in 2003

He is lucky to be a Pakistani. If he were a Bangladeshi/Sri Lankan he could only dream of playing for his country.

And I can positively say, in India a club level batsman is better than this pathetic hack. Heck if you select a club level Indian teenager and give him this much coaching/money he might end up with a decent career.

He is so bad as a batsman that he got out the same way even after a decade of experience. It is unbelievable.

He should be ashamed of himself.

Hafeez' career sums up PCB and its selectors' magical selections.

He played a decent-ish innings against Indian trundlers in CT17 but any other country would have gotten him out easily.

Man, I'm angry at this guy.

[Junaids]

Only one batsman in 143 years of Test cricket has an even worse record outside Asia than Mohammad Hafeez.

He’s the second worst batsman in 143 years.

We should laugh. He’s rubbish.

Who's the worst?

Mohammad Ashraful.

Here is the innings by innings breakdown of why Hafeez is the second worst batsman outside Asia in Test History.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...f-Test-cricket!

[Junaids]

Mohammad Ashraful.

Here is the innings by innings breakdown of why Hafeez is the second worst batsman outside Asia in Test History.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...f-Test-cricket!

To be fair, Hafeez’ Test average outside Asia is 16.42, which is the second worst in
History for a specialist batsman.

But for the last two year outside Asia the geriatric version of Azhar Ali is even worse - he averages 12.12 since his 33rd birthday.

[Cric1234]

Could have been an ATG (with the bat), massive under achiever.

Indeed averaging 16 outside Asia in tests tells you everything about his batting when the going gets tough Don Hafeez gets going!

[Majid Khan]

Dale Steyn says Hi

It’s one thing that you are a proven failure and never-has-been as far as proper cricket goes , but to actually give statements like this as if to imply that you silenced all those critics who laughed at you earlier with world class performances against the best teams in the world - you are seriously deluded mate , wake up and get real.

Your ‘auqaat’ as a cricketer and I’m talking proper cricket here , is you were only ever rated as a batsman by the bowlers of Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Hong Kong who I’m sure you may have given sleepless nights to - as for your record against other teams, the less said the better.

[Kroll]

During most of Hafeez's career, Pak fans have despaired rather than laugh. We'll leave the laughing to the bowlers.

[Majid Khan]

Again nothing personal against the chap but I have a strong allergy against mediocre cricketers who wear the Pakistan Cap that once Imran Khan and Javed Miandad wore - and my allergy is even stronger against those among these mediocre cricketers who have played for almost as long as Imran And Javed Miandad , delivered next to nothing through their performances (other then world class slip-catching practice for the opposition) but actually think that they are seriously good !

[mobins]

I still laugh at him every time he goes out to bat or to chuck.

Only one batsman in 143 years of Test cricket has an even worse record outside Asia than Mohammad Hafeez.

He’s the second worst batsman in 143 years.

We should laugh. He’s rubbish.

Could u pl back this up by providing the names and averages of the 5 worst in this category,it would interesting to know,thanks

[Majid Khan]

Interesting article I was reading a few weeks ago on BBC news online :

https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-43700153

Headline of the report: “I was a teacher for 17 years but I couldn’t read or write”

And immediately I was thinking of someone else in another profession in another part of the world who has also been around for 17 years. :-)

[Nasty Naz]

He was a huge part of Pakistan winning the CT which will probably go down as his biggest achievement of his career.

Definitely should have done better with the bat though. He is aesthically pleasing to watch and a superb timer of the ball but he really struggled with a swinging ball and simply just lost his focus and gave his wicket cheaply quite often too.

I think he might have had a different career if he stuck to playing 4-6 role than playing a top order role and struggling vs a moving ball to be honest.

[sshakir411]

Again nothing personal against the chap but I have a strong allergy against mediocre cricketers who wear the Pakistan Cap that once Imran Khan and Javed Miandad wore - and my allergy is even stronger against those among these mediocre cricketers who have played for almost as long as Imran And Javed Miandad , delivered next to nothing through their performances (other then world class slip-catching practice for the opposition) but actually think that they are seriously good !

what's worse is that mediocre players still have support from fans, ex players, and the system. We should really analyze why mediocre players get such a long run and are able to come up back in to the team after being dropped.

[Junaids]

Could u pl back this up by providing the names and averages of the 5 worst in this category,it would interesting to know,thanks

I already have!

The link is here, and it's the very first post....

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...f-Test-cricket

The five worst batsmen of all time outside Asia are:

Worst - Ashraful
Second worst - Hafeez
Third worst - McGregor
Fourth worst - Horan
Fifth worst - Cheetham

[Slog]

I already have!

The link is here, and it's the very first post....

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...f-Test-cricket

The five worst batsmen of all time outside Asia are:

Worst - Ashraful
Second worst - Hafeez
Third worst - McGregor
Fourth worst - Horan
Fifth worst - Cheetham

The funny thing is that the two 40s in England are among the streakiest I’ve seen

[Square Drive]

Decent utility player. Gets a bit too much hate at times although he should've been booted/should've retired after CT 2017. That was the perfect way to go. Also dislike his repeated chucking antics.

I guess as @Mamoon puts it, he was underrated as well as overrated.

Is definitely past it now.

[Usman]

During the World Cup, Hafeez played the early part keeping Harris Sohail out. We lost a bunch of games up front as a result. As soon as Haris came in, we turned it around and had he been in the team just one game earlier, we probably would have made the semis.

I was at several Pakistan games during the world cup and I witnessed, repeatedly, Hafeez playing the same shot to throw away his wicket.

There have been some bright spots no doubt, but any player given 17 years will produce the odd fluke. Overall Hafeez has been a monumental failure.

[Blistering Barnacle]

Lol. A bit out of context, that quote, I'd say.

[marlonbrowndo]

Got more hate than he deserved

[Junaids]

With thanks to @Slog

"In the history of Test Cricket, 377 players have played 25+ innings in the Top 6 outside Asia

Mohammad Hafeez is ranked 376 out of 377 in terms of average"

95
15
19
32
13
10
10
9*
0
32
1
2
4
32
8
2
6
0
17
0
18
0
40
42
18
2
0

Innings: 27
Runs: 427
Average: 16.42
100s: 0

[Giannis]

Every professional athlete is inspiring, laugh them all you want but they all made to the world stage and to last over a decade and a half is no mean feat. Pakistanis need to show more respect to pro athletes, most people haven't even played hard ball cricket or ran a mile in years yet feel like they're entitled to laugh at and insult the pros.

[Majid Khan]

what's worse is that mediocre players still have support from fans, ex players, and the system. We should really analyze why mediocre players get such a long run and are able to come up back in to the team after being dropped.

Agree , the problem is mediocrity from top to bottom - in the PCB board and management, selectors, fans, media that celebrates failure and mediocrity and calls it success.

My criticism at Hafeez is actually at the very system that allows such flop and non-performing sportsmen the opportunity to carry on representing their country for so long.

It won’t surprise me at all in a couple of years time when Hafeez gets introduced on Pak TV shows as a legend of the game.

[Swashbuckler]

One of the most aesthetically pleasing batsmen I have seen from Pakistan. His test record is almost identical to that of Du Plessis, so I don't understand the away record argument, even Faf averages in the low 20s or maybe lower in subcontinent boosted by some useless runs, dropped catches and umpiring howlers. Otherwise his actual output is in the 10-15 range per innings every time he steps foot in India, UAE, Sri Lanka and there are probably 5000 cricketes in Mumbai clubs who play spin better than him. Logically impossible to call Hafeez the worst batsman and hail Faf at the same time.

[Kroll]

He was a huge part of Pakistan winning the CT.

In what way? Do you mean only the final in which the platform was already set by Fakhar and Azhar? In terms of the whole campaign, the performances of Fakhar, Hasan Ali, booting out Ahmed Shehzad and the replacement of Wahab with Junaid Khan were the key points.

This gave us the momentum to eventually go on and lift the trophy. You can count on Hafeez to go missing more often than not though when the team needs him in desperate situation.

[TeymurBlake]

Came back into the side in 2010 due to his ability to bowl well. Since then his flaws with the bat have been apparent and countless bans for his bowling let alone the fact he has dropped many catches in his time. Facilitating Hafeez has been a dagger to the back which is yet to taken out.

[PakHammer]

One must say, after Barbar, Hafeez is our most stylish batsman when in form. But the problem is that he is never consistent. But on form, his cover drives are a treat to watch, very much Mohammed Yousaf like.

[Majid Khan]

Came back into the side in 2010 due to his ability to bowl well. Since then his flaws with the bat have been apparent and countless bans for his bowling let alone the fact he has dropped many catches in his time. Facilitating Hafeez has been a dagger to the back which is yet to taken out.

Agree and I think “facilitating” is the key word there.

There’s times over the last decade where I’ve often thought that maybe Pakistan cricket Team only exists to serve the purpose of facilitating Hafeez to play international cricket.

If he fails as an opening batsman, then we realise we need his experience in the middle order.

If he then fails as a middle order batsman, we justify his selection as an all rounder because we need his bowling.

If he gets banned from bowling for chucking, then we justify his position in the team a ‘senior’ player.

And when he fails to show any seniority through his performances when most needed by the team, then we facilitate him by resting him from difficult tours and let others fail instead to justify his recall because we need ‘experience’

And so the cycle continues...

As for the national team winning cricket matches by selecting the best players, or investing in young talent to build a team for the future, clearly they are lesser priorities..

[Nasty Naz]

In what way? Do you mean only the final in which the platform was already set by Fakhar and Azhar? In terms of the whole campaign, the performances of Fakhar, Hasan Ali, booting out Ahmed Shehzad and the replacement of Wahab with Junaid Khan were the key points.

This gave us the momentum to eventually go on and lift the trophy. You can count on Hafeez to go missing more often than not though when the team needs him in desperate situation.

I think this is underrating what he meant to the CT. Obviously, Hasan and Fakhar played a far bigger role in providing the trophy but Hafeez was key in the sense that he did an excellent job with his choke-hold bowling and due to his off-spin bowling, Sarfraz had 6 legitimate bowlers to throw out there with Hafeez/Imad/Shadab/Amir/Hasan/Junaid. Unrelenting attack from Pakistani bowlers is what won them the trophy.

[Kroll]

I think this is underrating what he meant to the CT. Obviously, Hasan and Fakhar played a far bigger role in providing the trophy but Hafeez was key in the sense that he did an excellent job with his choke-hold bowling and due to his off-spin bowling, Sarfraz had 6 legitimate bowlers to throw out there with Hafeez/Imad/Shadab/Amir/Hasan/Junaid. Unrelenting attack from Pakistani bowlers is what won them the trophy.

THB, I don't really recall much about his bowling in that tournament, but it is fair to say that whenever he's been allowed to bowl, it usually has been tight. He was really good around the 2012 season as part of the triumvirate partnership along with Afridi and Ajmal.

However this tight bowling is not getting away from his baseline meaning that he did not do something out of the ordinary to win Pakistan matches. Although, I appreciate he's blessed in all three facets, I guess this topic is more about his batting in which he considers himself a bit of a stud.

In that respect, his contribution was average, but if you think it was his bowling that made an impact then fair dos.

[adzzy786]

He gets a lot of slack on this forum, he was at one stage the best batsmen we had a few years ago. He also was invaluable with the ball.

[Rana]

He’s done remarkably well to come back in 2010 and still end up with a decent average of 33 in ODI, especially after it was stuck at 18-19 at one point and it was beyond repair lol.

Afridi’s was the same and he never repaired it. Afridi was a much, much better batsman than a guy averaging 24 lol.

[Rana]

On a serious note, I love his batting when he is in full flow. Joy to watch.

Hafeez, Saeed Anwar, Mohammad Yousuf, Babar Azam, Saving his skin mode Asad Shafiq...these guys have been a delight to watch in full flow.

Harris Sohail and Abid Ali can bat as well!

[offstump]

Gets way too much unnecessary hate from fans.. he was one of the primary reasons for our limited overs winning streaks as his bowling cut off so many runs.. one of our best fielders and a good batsman..

[Hasan123]

Should have been kicked out years ago. He was decent till about 6/7 years ago.

[Rana]

Gets way too much unnecessary hate from fans.. he was one of the primary reasons for our limited overs winning streaks as his bowling cut off so many runs.. one of our best fielders and a good batsman..

Part of life tbh. Some guys are just supposed to be hated no matter how good they are. Some guys will be loved to the moon no matter how undeserving they are. Might as well ride it and do your own thing. Hafeez doesn’t need to come out with these ‘feel sorry for me please’ comments

[Haroon786]

Could have been an ATG (with the bat), massive under achiever.

Yes, if there were 5 year olds bowling to him on a flat deck every single time he went out to bat.

He maximised whatever potential he had through hard work and classic Pakistani "jugaar" (referring to his bowling being under the radar for so many years until he was finally called for chucking). He was good for a few years as an AR, but he won't be remembered as a stand out or anything.

[Rana]

Yes, if there were 5 year olds bowling to him on a flat deck every single time he went out to bat.

He maximised whatever potential he had through hard work and classic Pakistani "jugaar" (referring to his bowling being under the radar for so many years until he was finally called for chucking). He was good for a few years as an AR, but he won't be remembered as a stand out or anything.

The kind of posters who are vouching for Mohammad Rizwan to become the next best player after Don Bradman

[GreenKhan]

One just has to see Hafeez record in ICC tournaments, to realise how much of a liability he has been to the team .

5 t20 world cups - 20 average with 1 50
4 50 over world cups - 2 50s- 25 average.

They are appalling stats for someone who is in the team for his utility and “experience “.
He feels he has a divine right to be in the team , despite going missing in the most crunch of situations 95% of the time.

[Nadeemp]

Mediocre player. Meet him once at a dinner party. He was a bit full of himself. Anyway. Hope we don’t see him in Pakistani colors again. Never liked him as a player

[ManFan]

And they are still laughing.

[Slog]

He’s done remarkably well to come back in 2010 and still end up with a decent average of 33 in ODI, especially after it was stuck at 18-19 at one point and it was beyond repair lol.

Afridi’s was the same and he never repaired it. Afridi was a much, much better batsman than a guy averaging 24 lol.

I used to think that too about Afridi but I’ve come to accept that Afridi was never more thay a 20-25 average batsman.

Literally you can pick any 50 match block from Afridi’s 400 or so match career and his batting stats almost always end up in the 17-28 average range. Mostly 20-25.

I think his best utility was to be a 20-25 batting average with 110 SR and a 30 average bowling at under 5 an over. Those are great stats for an all rounder and we probably only saw 5-6 years of those

[offstump]

Part of life tbh. Some guys are just supposed to be hated no matter how good they are. Some guys will be loved to the moon no matter how undeserving they are. Might as well ride it and do your own thing. Hafeez doesn’t need to come out with these ‘feel sorry for me please’ comments

Well said. He made it to "the show" which is more than any of us have done. Also remember, despite the laughter he had to work really hard to improve his game. Not many people have this level of discipline or focus. Was he the greatest, absolutely not. Was he a good player of international caliber, yes he was and that's more than anyone on this forum can say.

[Salman4.]

Might not be the best player but he definitely played for the crest on his chest. Will never forget when he stood up against Amir back in 2015.

[Kroll]

Might not be the best player but he definitely played for the crest on his chest. Will never forget when he stood up against Amir back in 2015.

...and then stood back down.

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

The irony is that, despite his flaws, I genuinely think that Hafeez has the makings of being a very good coach.

He's well travelled, thinks about the game, can be creative with his batting, and is an assertive personality.

I'd rather he went down the coaching route than the punditry route