Controversy in Pakistan cricket again! Players FRUSTRATED with Mohammad Hafeez’s long meetings and lectures amid disastrous show in New Zealand

Ever since Mohammad Hafeez was appointed as Pakistan’s new director, he has brought in major changes.

Controversy in Pakistan cricket again! Players FRUSTRATED with Mohammad Hafeez’s long meetings and lectures amid disastrous show in New Zealand

Mohammad Hafeez has asked the players to give an importance to domestic cricket (Image via ESPN)

Pakistan had a disastrous 2023. They failed to reach the finals of the Asia Cup and the semi-finals of the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, despite being branded as favorites. After Babar Azam resigned from all his posts, there was a rebuilding of the Pakistan team.

New coaches were brought in, a new director was appointed and the selectors were replaced. Despite all these changes, the team is yet to win a match and now the players are fed up with the new director’s methods. 

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Ever since Mohammad Hafeez was appointed as Pakistan’s new director, he has brought in major changes. Players have had their NOCs (No objection certificate) delayed and Hafeez have also put the contracts of a few players in danger. Along with that the players do not enjoy the long team meetings he conducts. 

Many players are preparing to participate in the Bangladesh Premier League (BBL) and the International League T20. Hafeez instead wants his players to focus on domestic cricket. This recently occurred with Haris Rauf, who rejected his call up to the Pakistan Test squad to play in the Big Bash League (BBL). The director decided to hold his NOC for sometime before approving it. 

Mickey Arthur claims Pakistan Cricket is on a downward slope 

Mickey Arthur joined as Pakistan’s Director of Cricket in April 2023. He was appointed for the upcoming Asia Cup and ODI World Cup, but Pakistan failed to perform in both competitions. He left his post and was replaced by Mohammad Hafeez. In an interview with Wisden, he blamed the players and the structure for Pakistan’s poor performances. 

Mickey Arthur
Mickey Arthur during the 2023 Cricket World Cup (Image via ESPN)
The talent is there, what it needs is a good structure, good leadership, as well as continuity and sustainability, along with proper direction. If it’s constant change and instability, players go into self-protection mode, and they end up playing for themselves, just thinking about the next tour.
Arthur told Wisden

Arthur had previously said the PCB would blame everyone but themselves after the 2023 World Cup. He was previously the Pakistan head coach from 2016 to 2019. He was their coach during their 2017 Champions Trophy triumph. 

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