Dubai: Peshawar Zalmi’s veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez hit a valiant half-century to almost pull his team close to the Multan Sultan’s target on Monday night.
His 56 runs off 41 balls, with five boundaries and two sixes, went in vain as his team fell short of the target by 19 runs while chasing Multan’s total of 183 for three on Tuesday night’s Pakistan Super League match at the Dubai International Stadium.
It was also a captain’s knock as he was the stand-in captain for an injured Darren Sammy.
Hafeez would have loved to contribute as a bowler too but last November, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had suspended him from bowling in international matches as his bowling was found to be illegal through an independent assessment. However, the ruling does not prevent him from bowling in domestic matches.
When asked about his chances of bowling in the PSL and whether his team management had sought the permission for him to bowl in the league, he said: “Zalmi management did ask the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about my bowling and contacted the PSL committee that if there is a rule of the ICC under which I could bowl. The bowling review committee of the PCB was also contacted and they were satisfied and happy with the corrective measures I did (after the suspension in November), I did the tests which went well, but the technical committee of the PSL did not give permission.”
Hafeez’s chances of playing in the 2019 World Cup will to a great extent depend on his role as an all-rounder though he has been consistent with the bat. “As a player, I was expecting to bowl here and get more confidence but we accepted and owned the technical decision,” remarked Hafeez candidly. “I have requested through the PCB to apply for international test. I am available and PCB has already spoken to the ICC and we are waiting for that time to get that test,” said Hafeez.
A disappointed Hafeez then went on to say: “I can’t say what and who has said what and where they are coming from. As long as you are hitting the criteria, you are giving performances and justifying your place, whether they are seniors or juniors their place depend on the performance. To me as a senior I am giving services to Pakistan team and hitting the criteria with the performance and fitness. The 2019 (World Cup) is my target and I want to play that and then I will see what happens after.”
Regarding his team’s defeat, he said: “We didn’t execute the skills in the last few overs with the ball. Sohaib Maqsood batted really well and hit the ball to all parts. Our bowlers tried their level best but it was an excellent innings from Maqsood.”
