Pakistan’s unforeseen exit from the T20 World Cup 2024 has opened the gateway to unending criticism with former cricketers and coaches levelling accusations daily. Pakistan’s shocking defeat to the USA and then to arch-rivals India put them in a spot of bother before they were knocked out of the tournament, failing to make it to the Super 8. Their debacle has led to a massive commotion in the Pakistan cricket fraternity, leading to a collective demand for Babar Azam’s sacking.
Adding his two cents into the ongoing discussions, former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has made some serious revelations about the fitness levels of the current team. Speaking to Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist in a Podcast, Hafeez revealed that the previous management, including Mickey Arthur and former coach Grant Bradburn, never prioritized player’s fitness which ultimately reflected during the Test Series in Australia.
“When I retired from this team, I ticked all the boxes of fitness. If I could do it at the age of 41 then why can’t the others? As I joined the team as Director, I noticed the fat percentage of the players had gone up and the running ability went down. I asked the trainer what had happened. Why the players aren’t able to go through the tests?
“He revealed a very shocking fact that the last management, comprising Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn and Babar Azam, asked him to put the fitness equation out and let the players play how wanted to play till the World Cup [2023].
“And When I asked him why didn’t he oppose, he said he just followed the instructions from the management. That was the reason we were struggling in the final innings of the Test series against Australia. We looked fatigued because we were missing that fitness level,” he added.
Hafeez also recalled an incident from Pakistan’s Australia tour last year when he found a few players sleeping in the dressing room while the Test match was underway.
“I went into the dressing room and found 4-5 players sleeping during the game. I was like, ‘How come you guys can do that?’ If you do something like this, you cannot be a part of this team. I want you guys to stay focused. Off the game, you do whatever you want to, it’s your life guys do whatever you want and I’ll never get involved in it. But in professional timings of the game, I want you guys to focus on the game,” Hafeez said.
“You tell me Gilly, if a player is sleeping in the dressing room and we are playing Test cricket. 4-5 players are sleeping in the dressing room, should I allow that as a team director,” he asked.
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