Mohammad Hafeez, former director of the Pakistan national men’s team, has claimed that Shaheen Afridi was reluctant to talk to Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan over splitting the opening pair when the pacer was captain of the T20I team.
While speaking to a local cricket website, Hafeez said that his decision to change the opening pair during New Zealand T20I series earlier this year was for the betterment of the team.
"I didn't change anyone’s batting position just because I wanted to. My plan was for the betterment of Pakistan team, so I did that," Hafeez said.
"Even I spoke to the captain [Shaheen] but he was reluctant to talk to Babar and Rizwan and so I took that responsibility. I went to talk to them and I had no problem with it because what I did was for Pakistan.
"And if someone feels that addressing all these issues and Pakistan performing well can be achieved by having Babar and Rizwan as openers, or if they can assign some other role to Saim Ayub or whoever the other cricketers are, then I have no issue. We want the best results for the Pakistan cricket team and all players should be given equal opportunities.”
Hafeez and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had parted ways in February this year.
Former Test captain Hafeez was given the responsibility of Director Cricket in November last year.
Hafeez has featured for Pakistan in 55 Tests, 218 ODIs and 119 T20Is and has scored 12,780 runs while also bagging 253 wickets.
It must be noted that the first match of the five-T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played today in Rawalpindi.
However, the rain could play spoilsport during the match according to The Weather Channel.
The latest weather forecast states that there is 60 percent chance of rain during the day and 80 percent at night today.
There is also 49 percent chance of rain on April 20, which is the day of the second T20I.
However, the chance of rain on April 21, when the third T20I is set to take place, is considerably less at 19 percent.
After the first three matches at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, both sides will move to Lahore, where they will play the remaining two T20Is of the series on 25 and 27 April, respectively.
All five matches of the T20I series will start at 7:00pm (PST).
- Mohammad Hafeez
- Shaheen Afridi
