Former Pakistan batter Salman Butt criticized his countryman Mohammad Hafeez for voicing the national team’s issues on the international stage. Salman Butt accused Hafeez of failing to take appropriate action during his tenure as the men’s team director, arguing that complaining about problems now is in vain.
During a recent appearance on the Club Prairie Fire Podcast, the 43-year-old Hafeez spoke with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan. In the conversation, Mohammad Hafeez recalled the alarmingly low fitness levels of players in his coaching stint and claimed that cricketers would often sleep in the dressing room during Test matches.
Mohammad Hafeez tenure as Pakistan’s director.
Former Pakistan player Mohammad Hafeez also went on a tirade against the team. Mohammad Hafeez had served as the team director from November 2023 to February 2024, and was also the interim head coach. The Pakistan national team setup has been pretty chaotic for 2-3 years, and it also saw Shaheen Shah Afridi replace Babar as captain after the 2023 ODI World Cup. But just before the T20 World Cup, Babar replaced Shaheen as skipper.
Mohammad Hafeez recalls shocking scenes during his tenure as Pakistan men’s team’s director position expressing his feelings regarding the same. Pakistan lost series in Australia and New Zealand when Mohammad Hafeez was the director and chief selector of team Pakistan. As the team’s leader, Hafeez oversaw Pakistan’s men’s side during the Test tour of Australia and the T20I series in New Zealand in 2023. Under his guidance, the team managed just one win across the eight games.
In his appearance on the show Cricket Baithak, the 39-year-old Salman Butt criticized the former all-rounder for failing to address the issue directly and instead complaining about it on international forums.
Salman Butt slams Mohammad Hafeez’s criticism of Pakistan after early exit from WC24.
Former Pakistan opener Salman Butt lashed out at his fellow countryman Mohammad Hafeez for discussing issues of the national team on an international platform. Butt slammed Hafeez for not taking requisite actions when he was the men’s team’s director, suggesting that complaining now is unproductive.
Hafeez recently made an appearance on the Club Prairie Fire Podcast and spoke to Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan. The 43-year-old recalled how low the players’ fitness levels were, claiming that they used to sleep in the dressing room during Test matches. Reacting to this on YouTube show Cricket Baithak, 39-year-old Salman Butt blamed the former all-rounder for not taking matters into his own hands and later complaining on international platforms.
“Maybe, he is saying as it is. But whose job was it to ensure that? You are complaining about your team’s matters on international platforms. You were team director. It was your job to pick the right people. You picked those people who, on their own, may never be there. You didn’t take fitness tests. Who stopped you? Or should I call it incompetence or lack of control? They were your juniors. You couldn’t take the tests?”
Hafeez was in-charge of the men’s side for the Test tour of Australia and the T20I series in New Zealand. Out of the eight games, Pakistan managed only one win.
“I don’t know what to agree with or what not to” – Salman Butt
Adding to his criticism, the ex-southpaw felt Hafeez should have addressed these concerns during his tenure and asked for more control. He added:
“You’re ranting to Adam (Gilchrist), ‘I wanted to do this and do that, but they didn’t listen to me. I was the team director.’For god’s sake, what were you trying to do? No one leaves their job until they’re sacked. Now, you go to an international platform and start complaining there.
Why didn’t you say that when you were here? Why didn’t you ask for more power and backing? I don’t know what to agree with or what not to. When someone else played Amir, he was a criminal. But it’s fine when you call him yourself.”
Pakistan are facing massive criticism following their group-stage exit from T20 World Cup 2024.