Ex-Pakistan Test captain Muhammad Hafeez retires from international cricket

KARACHI: Former Pakistan Test captain Muhammad Hafeez has decided to bid adieu to international cricket after retiring from Test cricket in 2018.

In a career spanning over 18 years, Hafeez played 55 Tests, 218 ODIs, and 119 T20s for Pakistan. He has also played 210 first-class matches.

The all-rounder also led the national team in all three formats of the game.

Muhammad Hafeez scored 12789 runs in 392 international matches and took 253 wickets.

Hafeez played three ICC World Cups and six T20 World Cups for Pakistan.

Hafeez addressed a press conference in Lahore where he officially said goodbye to "a beautiful journey, started 18 years ago".

"Today, I am formally announcing my retirement after representing Pakistan with pride.

"I am happy and satisfied with my career and will continue playing league cricket as I am fit and performing," said Hafeez.

"I wanted to be a part of Pakistan's World Cup-winning T20 team, and despite all the hard work and effort, it was not possible," he added.

Hafeez shed light on his relationship with the PCB and recalled the rift between him and the former chairman of the board.

"I have never expressed displeasure with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and there should be clear communication between the players and the board, and the gap should be reduced.

"I have always been of the view that fixers should not be given a chance to represent Pakistan. And when I protested against the fixers, I got an answer from the then chairman, which hurt me the most. He told me, 'if you want to play, play, but they will surely play".

On being asked about pursuing a career in coaching, Hafeez said he would fulfill all the requirements before becoming a coach.

"I will think of coming to coaching only after fulfilling all the requirements and those, who are currently coaching in Pakistan, should get the chance first."

Hafeez also said he thought about retiring from international cricket after the 2019 World Cup. However, his wife and some close relatives talked him out of it.

"I thought about retiring after the 2019 World Cup, but my wife told me not to, and some close people had the same opinion," he said.

Hafeez's wife still doesn't want her husband to retire, but Hafeez told his wife that it's time.

Muhammad Hafeez, 41, started his international career in 2003 with an ODI match against Zimbabwe in Sharjah, UAE.

After making his ODI debut, Hafeez made his Test debut in the same year against Bangladesh on August 20 in Karachi.

Three years later, the all-rounder played his first T20 match in August 2006 against England in Bristol.

Muhammad Hafeez played his last T20I against Australia in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2021.

Mohammad Hafiz played his last ODI on July 5 against Bangladesh at Lord's while his last Test match was against New Zealand.

Hafeez was also a member of the winning team of Champions Trophy 2017, where Pakistan managed to win the title by thrashing arch-rivals India in the final.

Hafeez was instrumental in the final match against India as he scored 57 runs in 37 balls.

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