Mohammad Hafeez blasts Pakistan as Fakhar Zaman's fitness gamble backfires
Published - 20 Feb 2025, 12:35 PM | Updated - 20 Feb 2025, 12:45 PM
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Pakistan's troubles in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have doubled as they are now facing concerns over Fakhar Zaman's injury after suffering the crushing defeat of 60 runs in the tournament opener against New Zealand in Karachi.
Fakhar Zaman suffered a setback just two balls into the match while fielding, forcing him off the ground at the National Stadium on February 19. However, Fakhar Zaman returned later, but he didn’t look fully fit during Pakistan's crushing defeat against the Black Caps.
Notably, Fakhar Zaman couldn’t open the innings during the Men in Green’s chase due to ICC rules, which mandate that a player must spend the same amount of time on the field as they were off before resuming play. As a result, Fakhar Zaman was forced to come in at number four.
Mohammad Hafeez slams Pakistan’s tactics after crushing defeat to New Zealand
Well, the seasoned opener’s struggle was evident, as he played a sluggish knock of 24 runs off 41 balls that didn’t help the hosts in any way. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s disastrous start in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has left Mohammad Hafeez fuming, as he blamed the team’s lack of intent in the first 20 overs for the loss.
The former Pakistan captain and 2017 Champions Trophy winner said that the Men in Green’s chase was never on track, with the top order failing to show the urgency needed to keep up with the required run rate. With no clear strategy in place, Pakistan’s batting collapsed under pressure, and Hafeez said that such timid performance is not going to help the team at all.
Mohammad Hafeez said on the ‘Game On Hai’ show, “Pakistan lost the match in the first 15-20 overs. There was no process; there was no intent to win this match. Our top order did not bat to chase 320 runs down.”
Mohammad Hafeez criticizes Pakistan’s decision to send unfit Fakhar Zaman at No. 4
Meanwhile, Hafeez didn’t hold back in criticizing Pakistan’s decision to send Fakhar Zaman at No. 4 despite his fitness struggles against the Black Caps. The former all-rounder has pointed out that Fakhar’s inability to run between the wickets put extra pressure on Babar Azam, who needed momentum at that stage.
Mohammad Hafeez said on the same show: “Please give this Champions Trophy to the person who sent Fakhar to Np.4. I’m saying this because Fakhar can't run. We all know that. We've seen that. This is ODI, and he can't play 38 overs or hit sixes and fours. You sent your main fit players inside.”
Defending Babar’s slow innings of 60 runs off 90 balls, Hafeez said, “Fakhar was not able to make runs because of running between the wickets. Babar got extra pressure. Because his game was not to take the game on straight away. Or at that stage, he was not able to do it. So, he needed that momentum, which Salman Agha gave later.”
Fakhar's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is over because of Pakistan team management: Mohammad Hafeez
Hafeez has argued that if the Men in Blue were truly playing to win the tournament opener, players like Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, or Khushdil Shah should have been sent ahead of Fakhar. He also noted that Fakhar might have recovered for the next game if he was managed carefully, but now his tournament is over following his 24-run knockoff 41 balls in Karachi.
He signed off by saying, “So, if Salman, Tayyab, and Khushdil had played, if our situation of the game was to win, we would have sent Fakhar. Otherwise, we wouldn't have sent him. Now after this match, he will be out of the tournament. Maybe there would have been a chance that Fakhar would have fit in the next match. But now his tournament is over.”
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