Yasir Arafat: “Mohammad Hafeez as a team director tried to improve [the] fitness standards of [the] Pakistan cricket team but he was wrongly criticised by ex-cricketers. I myself witnessed that [the] fitness standards of Pakistani Players looked below average”
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Ex-Pakistan cricketer Yasir Arafat has come to the defence of former team director Mohammad Hafeez, saying he was “wrongly criticised” after trying to improve the team’s fitness standards.
Hafeez’s stint as team director and interim head coach only lasted three months before he was removed from both positions.
Arafat applauded the former all-rounder for trying to implement positive changes in the Pakistan team, noting that he himself has seen how poor the fitness levels are right now.
“Mohammad Hafeez as a team director tried to improve [the] fitness standards of [the] Pakistan cricket team but he was wrongly criticised by ex-cricketers. I myself witnessed that [the] fitness standards of Pakistani Players looked below average,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan recently drew 2-2 with New Zealand in a five-match T20I series before beating Ireland 2-1 in a three-match T20I series.
They then faced England in four T20Is and lost 2-0.
Currently, the men in green are involved in the 2024 T20 World Cup and lost their first two games against the United States of America and India before rebounding to take down Canada by seven wickets.
Their next match will be against Ireland on June 16 in Lauderhill.
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
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