Hafeez considering options after demotion in central contract

Veteran all-rounder might make himself unavailable for national team selection

KARACHI: Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has decided not to sign the central contract for the year 2018-19 after being demoted from category A to B on Monday.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the list for the next year on August 06 in Lahore where the 37-year-old was the most notable demotion in the list of 33 players.

Hafeez, who has represented the Men in Green in 50 Tests, 200 ODIs and 83 T20Is, where he collectively scored 11,224 runs with the help of 20 centuries, 55 half-centuries and also claimed 239 wickets, has had a difficult last year where he was once again reported for his bowling action and also lost his place in the limited overs side.

The decision to demote Peshawar Zalmi all-rounder was reportedly taken by Director Cricket Operations Haroon Rashid, Chief Selector Inzamamul Haq, Director Academies Mudassar Nazar and was approved by PCB Chairman Najam Sethi.

According to the sources, Hafeez has decided not to sign the contract and also considering an option to make himself unavailable for the national team selection in the future.

“Hafeez has decided to question the board why he was demoted to category B,” a source close to Sargodha-born right-hander confirmed The Express Tribune. “If he don’t get any satisfactory answer, then he is considering making himself unavailable in future for the team selection and will part ways with the national team without taking official retirement.”

The source added: “He will be talking to the board in the next two days. If their response isn’t satisfactory, than Hafeez he will prove selectors wrong by his performances on the pitch in the foreign leagues.”

Hafeez recently made a comeback in the Men in Green’s squad in the recently concluded T20I and ODI tour of Zimbabwe, but his participation remained limited to only two matches in the 20-over format.