Ex-director Mohammad Hafeez subtly calls out Babar Azam for never prioritizing Pakistan team’s fitness

Mohammad Hafeez claimed many players were unfit and struggled to run two kilometers.

Ex-director Mohammad Hafeez subtly calls out Babar Azam for never prioritizing Pakistan team’s fitness

Mohammad Hafeez blamed Babar Azam for the poor fitness of the Pakistan team (Images via ESPN)

Mohammad Hafeez was hired as Pakistan’s Director of Cricket just days after Pakistan’s disastrous run in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He held the role for barely three months before being fired due to a change of the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. 

Days after being fired, he went on live television and was asked about his time as the Pakistan director. Under him, the Pakistan team played a Test series in Australia and a T20I series in New Zealand. He revealed that the players never stayed fit, due to Babar Azam and Mickey Arthur. 

YouTube video
When I took over as director and we reached Australia, I told the team trainer to give me a report on the players’ fitness standards and prepare a new fitness regimen. He told me that the former captain (Babar) and head coach (Arthur) had told him six months ago that fitness is not the priority at the moment and let the players play as they wanted. 
Mohammad Hafeez to A-Sports

Hafeez claimed he was shocked at the revelation and checked the body fat percentage of all players. It was revealed that all players were way below international standard, and many players struggled to run two kilometers. 

Mohammad Hafeez took two months to convince Babar Azam to start batting at number 3 

During Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand, where five T20s were played, Babar Azam was seen batting at number three. Playing the majority of his career as an opener, it was something he was not used to, but Mohammad Hafeez took a lot of time convincing him. 

It took me about two months to convince Babar Azam that you have to do it for Pakistan and you are not the first one who's doing it. You are a great player, you are a wonderful player and you are playing great cricket however you have to develop the Pakistan team.
Mohammad Hafeez to A-Sports

Hafeez claimed him and Mohammad Rizwan were fabulous players, but not the remaining team. Azam played the entire New Zealand tour at number three, scoring three half-centuries. He scored 213 runs, averaging 42.6. 

In case you missed!