New Delhi,Updated: February 21, 2024 11:01 (IST)
Pakistan’s former cricket director unleashed a tirade against the national team days after his resignation. Speaking on Pakistan’s sports channel A Sports, Hafeez said that Pakistani players do not have the physical fitness standards to play international cricket.
Hafeez was recently sacked as director of cricket after Pakistan lost the T20I series in New Zealand 4-1. Hafeez had a four-year contract with the Pakistan team, but his contract was abruptly terminated by the Cricket Board. An furious Hafeez took to Twitter to express his displeasure and said he would reveal the reasons for Pakistan’s poor performance in international cricket.
In a surprising revelation, Hafeez said Pakistan cricketers have not been able to focus on their fitness for the past six months and are not fit to compete in international cricket.
“When I went to Australia, I told the players to watch their fitness levels. I also asked the trainer about the players’ physical condition. He said something that shocked me. But six months ago, the captain (Babar Azam) and director of cricket (Mickey Arthur) told them to stop checking the fitness parameters of the players and let them play the way they want.” Hafeez told A-Sports. .
Pakistan have been underperforming in the international circuit since the 2023 ODI World Cup. Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals of the tournament and as a result Babar Azam and Mickey Arthur were relieved of their positions.
Under the captaincy of Shan Masood (Tests) and Shaheen Afridi (T20I), Pakistan could not do any better and lost the series in Australia and New Zealand. Explaining the reason behind the lackluster performance, Hafeez said some athletes may not be able to complete 2km even if they are asked to do so.
“When we tested the athletes for their fat levels, all of them had high skin folds, which for most of them was 1.5 times the limit.The athletes were not fit for health and some were unable to complete a 2km trial run. The decision comes as “the training six months ago subverted the fitness standards set. If your fitness is like that, you will be defeated,” Mohammad Hafeez added on the show. .