“We failed to put up a good show as a team and I take the blame. My services will be there as a player to Pakistan and I’m ready to play under any captain,” says Muhammad Hafeez. PHOTO: APP
Team Pakistan faced withering criticism after their appalling show in the mega event, underway in Bangladesh, where the team failed to make it to the semi-finals for the first time in the history of World Twenty20.
“I’ve myself offered to step down as skipper after consultation with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi,” Hafeez told reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
“We failed to put up a good show as a team and I take the blame. My services will be there as a player to Pakistan and I’m ready to play under any captain.” He hoped that good decisions will be taken in future in the best interest of the team.
Meanwhile, head coach Moin Khan — whose tenure was limited to Asia Cup and World T20 along with fielding coach Shoaib Mohammad and batting consultant Zaheer Abbas — said that he has shown his willingness to continue serving in the same capacity for the team.
“I’ve offered my services to PCB because my current contract has ended after these two assignments. Now it’s up to PCB whether they want to continue with me or not,” Moin stated.
He went on to appreciate Hafeez for being bold enough to accept responsibility for the debacle.
Fate of Shoaib, Zaheer
It has been learnt that fielding coach Shoaib Mohammad and batting consultant Zaheer Abbas are likely to be relieved from their duties, with little chances of their contracts being renewed.
“Both Shoaib and Zaheer are unlikely to receive the extension now because PCB wants to move forward with a fresh approach,” an official privy to the matter told The Express Tribune.
“Board’s top management will go for some fresh faces instead of Shoaib and Zaheer because there is already a new chief selector in Rashid Latif, who will announce new selection committee, while we will also have a new T20 captain,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2014.
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i like m hafeez
Now ibring Razzaq back in the team.
Failure and defeat is like a tight slap so never critise or celebrate when one is down.
Thank You Hafeez !!!!
Finally some good news, he should have also quit from Pakistani T20 team, as he don't know the difference between various formats of the games.
Our expectation from cricket team are impossibly high . We demand perfection every time which no team in the world can deliver. Part of the fun of watching a sporting event is the uncertainty surrounding it. we want matches not to be fixed. Players to do their best , then we need to accept results and not start the blame game. look at Australia after a dazzling trouncing of England they go down as well, worst than Pakistan. Let us remember it is a game, not the life our First born.