Mohammad Hafeez takes swipe at PCB over NOC drama; criticizes "paid media and fans" for making him villian

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez launched a fresh scathing attack on the Mohsin Naqvi-led Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over their latest move ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies, starting on June 1.

Actually, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently denied issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Usama Mir to take part in England’s T20 Blast. PCB cited that Mir played his allotted quota of the overseas leagues in a year, so the board can’t allow him to play in the T20 Blast in England.

After the PCB move, Hafeez took a potshot at the board and asked the Pakistani fans and media where they are now, as they were continuously criticizing him when he was the Pakistan cricket team director and head coach.

Mohammad Hafeez calls out Pakistani Media and PCB over NOC issue

Hafeez said that they slammed him on many non-committed sins like NOC policy and now why Pakistan cricket's protectors are silent. The former Pakistani captain also hinted that he was removed from his job because of the NOC drama.

Notably, Hafeez was appointed the Pakistan team director and head coach on an interim basis by the Zaka Asraf-led PCB management in November last year, but after reports broke out that he was too hard with his approach and some of his controversial decisions, Naqvi removed him from the role.

Apart from this, the Men in Green were whitewashed by Australia in a T20I series, and then New Zealand crushed them in a five-match T20I series 4-1, which left many disappointed. Under his tenure, Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf was also put out of contention for the Test tour to Australia.

Rauf wanted to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) against the idea of Hafeez, and it led him to lose the PCB’s central contract. Hafeez also did not allow the Under-19 cricketers to play in Pakistan's domestic national T20 Cup. These are the issues that went against him, and he lost his position in the Pakistan cricket system.

Mohammad Hafeez criticizes Pakistani fans and media

But now Mir’s NOC drama handed him the chance to slam the PCB for making issues with his choices, and now they are doing the same, but nobody is saying anything. The former Pakistani all-rounder has openly slammed the fans and "paid media" for unnecessarily targeting him when he was on the charge.

Mohammad Hafeez posted on X: “Five months ago under my 2 months directorship with the Pakistan team all Pakistan sports media & paid social media trends criticized me on many non-committed sins like NOC policy. Who is to blame now??? It’s a mutual agreement between players & PCB on a central contract.”

Five months ago under my 2 months directorship with pakistan team all pakistan sports media & paid social media trends criticised me on many non committed sins like NOC policy. Who is to blame now ??? It’s a mutual agreement between players & PCB on central contract. https://t.co/CbbA6hElIe

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) May 30, 2024

Notably, Pakistan recently won a T20I series in Ireland, but there has been no significant improvement in the team’s performance as they suffered a crushing defeat in the second T20I in England.

However, the two matches of the ongoing four-match T20I series were washed out due to rain, but the Men in Green would now be looking to finish the UK tour with a win in the final game on May 30.