Players slept during Test: Hafeez

The former all-rounder emphasized the importance of maintaining concentration during professional cricket matches

Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez unleashed a barrage of criticism at the Pakistan cricket team following their premature exit from the T20 World Cup.

Hafeez, who had served as the team director from November 2023 to February 2024 and also as the interim head coach, held nothing back in his assessment.

Speaking to renowned cricket personalities Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist, Hafeez revealed the team’s lack of discipline during matches.

“You tell me, Gilly if a player or four, five players are sleeping in the dressing room while we’re playing a Test match, should I allow that as a team director?” Hafeez questioned.

Responding with a touch of humor, Vaughan quipped, “Are they tired?” to which Hafeez continued with a serious tone, “I really don’t know. I went into the dressing room and found four players sleeping. I was like, ‘How come you guys can do that?’ If you do something like this, you cannot be a part of this team.”

The former all-rounder emphasized the importance of maintaining concentration during professional cricket matches.

“I want you guys to stay focused during the game and off the game, whatever you guys do, it is your own life; I never get involved in it. But in the professional timings of the game, I want you guys to focus on the game. Stay in touch.

“If you are a fast bowler, you can have a rest and a good ice bath, but you need to concentrate on the game of cricket, like how the other team is also doing. You cannot switch yourself off during the game, but unfortunately, the media didn’t like it,” he concluded.

Pak cricketers limit public interactions in US

Following an early exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan’s cricket team has decided to limit their public interactions in the United States after an incident involving fast bowler Haris Rauf and a fan.

According to a local media report, key players including Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf have significantly reduced their public appearances, choosing to only meet with individuals they know personally.

This decision comes after Haris Rauf was involved in a heated altercation with a fan in the USA.

Accompanied by his wife, Rauf appeared visibly furious and charged towards the fan despite efforts from those around him to intervene. The confrontation escalated as Rauf, undeterred by his wife and friends’ attempts to hold him back, jumped over bushes to confront the fan face-to-face.

During the incident, his footwear came off, but this did not stop him from continuing his approach. Despite attempts by his wife and an official to calm the situation, their efforts were unsuccessful. Eventually, the fan walked away, leaving the scene.

Aussie skipper Marsh ready to bowl at T20 WC

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh says he is ready to bowl in the Super Eight phase of the T20 World Cup after a gradual recovery from a hamstring strain.

The all-rounder has been restricted to batting at the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States and West Indies, and his bowling has not been needed as Australia went undefeated through the opening group stage.

However, he offers the side a medium pace option if required, starting with their game against Bangladesh in Antigua on Thursday.

“I’ll be available to bowl,” Marsh told reporters on Wednesday.

“With the line-up that we’ve got, I don’t really necessarily see a need for me to bowl, but I think it’s really important in this format to have options and we’re blessed with plenty of those.”