Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez Friday said that he will retire from international cricket after the Twenty20 World Cup later this year. The T20 World Cup will take place in Australia in October but he said that he will end his career on a positive note. The 38-year-old was recalled on Thursday to Pakistan’s Twenty20 squad for their upcoming series against Bangladesh which will start in Lahore from January 24.
However, he has been one of their key players across formats, not only as a top-order batsman but also as a handy off-spinner since his debut in 2003 against England. But he has faced many questions over his bowling action during international matches. He was also banned from bowling for 12 months in 2015 as well.
“It has been a privilege,” Mohammad Hafeez said to the media. “I want to play the Twenty20 World Cup and then exit from Pakistan’s international team.”
Hafeez, who announced his retirement from the longer format of the game in December 2018 after playing 55 Tests. However, he was more successful in the limited over games, smashing 6,614 runs and bagged 139 wickets in 218 One Day International games.
His last ODI appearance was during the 50 overs World Cup in England last year but he has not been included for that format since then. He has played in 89 Twenty20 International games and also bagged 54 wickets and 1,908 runs as well.
“I have played 17 years for Pakistan and tried my level best. At times I missed my bowling,” said Mohammad Hafeez, who has also led Pakistan in 29 Twenty20 Internationals. Among these games, he won 17 and lost 11 while one ended in a tie.
However, Bangladesh wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim on Friday (January 17) withdrawn his name from their upcoming Pakistan tour due to security reasons. He made himself unavailable for the entire series which included three T20Is, two Tests, and one-off ODI. He has also officially informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the board also accepted his request as well.
