Earlier this week, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced their squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup which is slated to kick off from October 16 in Australia. Pakistan's 15-member strong squad missed a big name in the form of star all-rounder Shoaib Malik which drew many eyeballs.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan's star all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez lambasted Pakistani selectors for missing out Malik in the main squad for the all-important marquee tournament.
However, Hafeez said he advised Malik to call it quits to cricket post last edition's T20 World Cup as he already knew the future of star all-rounder in the Pakistan's fold.
"I don't even know whether he will get a proper farewell now which he should, given his 22 years of international cricket. Because as things stand after his recent tweet where he highlighted friendships, liking and disliking in the team many are unhappy with him," Hafeez told the CricketPakistan channel.
"Malik gave his best to Pakistan for about 21-22 years and maintaining your fitness standards for that long is absolutely remarkable.
"When I took my retirement, I told Malik to take retirement as well because I knew that he will not be respected as it was also evident in my case. My understanding was that he wanted one last standing but cricket is cruel like this," Hafeez added.
Hafeez said after the 2019 World Cup he had suggested to the management to give Malik a farewell game.
"They didn't entertain my suggestion at all not realizing his services he should have got a match. Our management has always been lacking when it comes to bidding them a farewell," he maintained.
"Don't talk about that he cannot play cut or pull, don't forget that he played cricket for 22 years so he didn't play these shots? We need to understand; we need proper cricketers with whom we can make winning combination whether he is 40 or 20," he said.
Hafeez, who himself retired earlier this year from international cricket, described Pakistan's selected batters, Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah as one dimensional players.
"There is so much dependence on the top three and I would advise Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan now to show more intent in their approach in coming matches," he said.
"I have said this before as well, Babar and Rizwan are the number one pair for Pakistan. They have helped Pakistan cricket win and grow. But if there is anything both players can improve upon; it is intent."
"Khushdil and Asif do not rely on innings building and they are very one-dimensional players. Khushdil has a strikerate (SR) of 110 and we consider him an international hitter and that is not right. We need to get to the bottom of this situation," he said.
"We need to ask ourselves do these players have the ability to absorb pressure? Can they build an innings if Babar and Rizwan fall early? We have selected these players based on the fact that our top-order takes time to settle which is ridiculous," Hafeez concluded.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will take on arch-rivals India on October 23 in the T20 World Cup. When they last faced each other in the T20 World Cup, Babar Azam-led side trounced India by 10 wickets. It will be interesting see who will win the high-octane clash when the heavyweights clash against each other.
Pakistan squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usman Qadir.
Traveling reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris and Shahnawaz Dahani.
