Aamir Sohail: “We were categorically being told that he had no place in the Pakistan side but he has been brought back and is now part of the Test squad”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail was less than impressed with the way in which Mohammad Hafeez was added to the Test squad after it was announced.

Hafeez was not among the players initially selected for the upcoming two-Test series against Australia, which begins on October 7 in Dubai.

However, following a string of superb performances for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Hafeez was called up to the Test side.

Some of Hafeez’s highlights included a six-wicket haul against the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and a magnificent 213 against Peshawar.

However, Sohail questioned how Hafeez went from being told that there was no place for him in the national team to being recalled just days ahead of the Test series against the Baggy Greens.

“What is happening now is that they are bowing to pressure and including players just to relieve the stress on themselves,” he wrote in his blog for PakPassion. “Specifically, in the case of Mohammad Hafeez, we were categorically being told that he had no place in the Pakistan side but he has been brought back and is now part of the Test squad.

“How can this be justified or work? If he was so important to the side and maybe he was after his bowling action was cleared, then he should have been in the original squad in the first place. Once again, I would suggest that the Pakistan selectors need to be clear in their thinking if we are to make progress in the future.”