Mohammad Hafeez announces retirement from international cricket

Former Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez has announced his retirement from international cricket, Geo News reported on Monday. Hafeez, who had already retired from Tests in 2018, was still playing T20Is for Pakistan. He was also part of the 20-20 World Cup but had an average tournament.

Advertisment

Hafeez played 55 Tests, 218 ODIs and 119 T20Is for Pakistan, amassing 12,780 runs and taking 253 wickets across formats. Hafeez was set to retire post the conclusion of the 20-20 World Cup in 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the mega event to 2021, forcing the senior batter to delay his retirement. Post Pakistan's exit in the 20-20 World Cup, it was evident that the veteran won't play for Pakistan anymore.

Barring the 2009 20-20 World Cup, which Pakistan won, Hafeez played every edition of the mega event. He also led Pakistan to the semifinal in the 2012 20-20 World Cup. He was also the captain of the side in 2014 when Pakistan failed to reach the semis. He led Pakistan in 29 T20I games, winning 18 and losing 11.

While there is one 20-20 World Cup scheduled in Australia later this year, Hafeez doesn't fit in the scheme of things as Pakistan wants to bring in fresh blood into the squad. If Hafeez had to be in the team for the World Cup, he would have to play all the T20I series for Pakistan in the build-up to the event, for which neither Pakistan Cricket Board nor Hafeez was ready. The veteran had already revealed that his focus is to play franchise cricket and requested PCB to consider him only for important events.

The 41-year-old is an active member of several T20 franchise cricket tournaments. He will next be seen in the Pakistan Super League where he will be playing for Lahore Qalandars. The tournament gets underway on January 27.