(AP Photo)
Former Pakistan team director and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez leveled harsh allegations against veteran players Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, who reversed their retirements to rejoin the national side ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. Despite their announcements, both were swiftly included in the squad for the tournament.
Hafeez contends that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reinstated the experienced duo motivated by financial gain, insinuating that there may have been undisclosed deals prompting their return.
Hafeez said, “They have been brought back due to greed, they have done a deal to get them back. They have brought back people who have ruined Pakistan cricket”.
The former Pakistan team director raised concerns about the board’s decision to include the duo in the national side without having played domestic cricket, unlike many other aspirants vying for a spot in the team.
He implied that the duo might view the ongoing World Cup as just another franchise cricket league, hinting that financial gain could be another motivating factor for their return.
“How can it be that players who don’t even play Pakistan’s domestic cricket get selected? When asked to play for Pakistan six months ago, they said they wanted to play in leagues. Since no leagues are happening now, they are playing in the World Cup. They are playing in the World Cup as if it is just another league,” he concluded.
Pakistan Cricket team faces criticism following their defeat to rivals India in New York on Sunday. Despite limiting their opponents to 120 runs, they faltered in the chase, denting their Super 8s prospects. Pakistan aims to win their remaining group-stage matches convincingly and rely on favorable results elsewhere to progress in the tournament.
