The new phase of the Pakistan cricket team, led by their former team captain Mohammad Hafeez, hasn’t unfolded as expected.
Hafeez, who recently accepted the dual responsibilities of team director and temporary head coach, has yet to clinch a victory with the side since assuming charge before the Australia tour.
Beyond the issues on the field, Hafeez is encountering difficulty in forging bonds with the players during his debut coaching term. Concerns have developed over his coaching method, specifically the extended and repeated nature of team meetings. Reports from Pakistan show player unhappiness, with some commenting that the extended talks are tedious and repetitious.
Amidst these issues, Hafeez’s coaching method is being thoroughly analyzed, generating doubts about its effectiveness and effects on team morale. As the tour unfolds poorly for Pakistan, the pressure is increasing on Hafeez to bring about a turnaround in the remaining matches of the series.
It’s been reported that Mohammed Hafeez, the director of the Pakistan cricket team, is causing some unease among players, mainly due to his penchant for lengthy meetings and lectures. Several players, who wish to remain anonymous, express discontent with the extended discussions led by Hafeez, both during the Australia tour and the ongoing one in New Zealand.
“He holds very long meetings and gives long lectures and some of the players get restless because same things are repeated,” one media report said.
According to media reports, players are expressing discontent over what they perceive as unequal treatment in the approval of NOCs for participation in overseas leagues.
It has been reported that while players such as Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi received NOCs to participate in the International League T20 in the Emirates, others faced delays in obtaining permission for the Bangladesh Premier League, allegedly due to intervention from Hafeez.
During the Australia series, Hafeez found himself at the center of controversy when reports emerged about him introducing a rule that prohibited players from sleeping in the dressing room. As the team grapples with ongoing challenges, all eyes are on Hafeez to navigate through this tough start and guide the Pakistani cricket team back to success.
Looking ahead, the Pakistan team, under Hafeez’s coaching, has once again faced disappointment, losing the third T20I match against New Zealand and trailing behind 3-0.
