SYDNEY (Agencies): Pakistan cricket team director Mohammad Hafeez, on Saturday, addressed concerns surrounding top players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Hafeez, while speaking to the media at the post-match conference here, commented on the ongoing rough patch of star batter Babar Azam and also on the possibility of giving him the rest. “Babar Azam can be rested. Before giving rest to Babar, one has to think about what Babar himself wants,” said Hafeez.
Mohammad Hafeez then praised Babar Azam for his hard work and determination towards cricket while also extending his support. “Not necessarily to rest, [he] can talk about improving any technique,” he said and added: “A big innings will restore his confidence. Red ball cricket brings sophistication to the game. A red ball cricketer can play all formats.”
Hafeez also talked about Shaheen Afridi, particularly on his workload. He backed the management’s decision to rest Shaheen Afridi for the third Test against Australia and emphasized the necessity of sustaining his career for the long run. “He bowled really well in those two games and bowled the most of any bowler,” he said and added: “When I asked him before the third Test, his body was sore. And I need to look after him more than anything.
“If someone thinks their body is sore and they can’t deliver the best, we need to look after the career of the individual. I will never make a decision where a player can lose his career for six months or a year. “It was a tough call but we made that decision for the betterment of the players. Because we cannot make that decision at the cost of a player’s career,” Hafeez concluded.
It is worth mentioning here that the New Zealand T20I series-bound players will now depart for Auckland and will link up with the rest of the squad there. Pakistan will engage in a five-match series against the Blackcaps, scheduled to run from January 12 to 21.
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