Mohammad Hafeez: Pakistan’s solution after World Cup 2003
Sometimes nature plays a strange game. God with his boundless sapience chooses a common man to undertake a special task.
Pakistani all-rounder, Mohammad Hafeeez, is a player, who was tasked with reigniting the dying flame of Pakistani cricket in the aftermath of the ICC World Cup 2003, in which Pakistan experienced ignominious failures.
With his marvellous all-rounding techniques, Hafeez infused a new spirit in the cricket of Pakistan. As a right-handed batsman and right-arm off-spin bowler, Hafeez has accomplished many remarkable feats for his side.
Hafeez experienced a suspension in his career but did not get discouraged. He returned with full fervour and started afresh. He is now an opening batsman and a leading spinner.
Born on 17 October, 1980 in Sargodha, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, Hafeez started his cricket career in his college cricket team. From the very beginning he posed to be an all-rounder. Soon he became a key player of Class-A cricket and started playing for Faisalabad Wolves.
He was eager to invest his skills for his country’s most auspicious game i.e. cricket.
Pakistan’s cricket team disappointed the nation and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) started a hunt for young and energetic players, who could lift cricket’s most coveted cup.
Hefeez was among the players, who shouldered the team at that crucial time. Hafeez was selected to play the Sharjah Cup in 2003. He made its ODI debut on 3 April, 2003, in his side’s first fixture against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium.
He opened the innings and scored 12 runs from 18 deliveries including 2 fours. On the bowling front, he did well and took 2 wickets for just 41 runs. It was a good start. Soon after, Hafeez thrived in the NatWest series in England. From these two events,
Hafeez emerged as a consistent batsman, composed bowler, and, alert fielder.
Hafeez played the first Test of his career on 20 August, 2003. This was the first match of the 5-match Test series against Bangladesh. The match was held at National Stadium Karachi, Pakistan. Hafeez took a wicket and smashed a fifty with the help of 6 fours.
In the second Test, Hafeez stroked his maiden century.
There came a setback in Hafeez’s career when he failed to do well in an ODI series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747. His was dropped from the Test and ODI squads. He did not lose heart and kept up his practice.
After two years he was called back to ODI cricket in 2005. His performance was again mediocre. His rise started with his sparkling century while playing for Pakistan-A against Australia-A. This century ensured his participation in the Oval Test. He went
on to score 95.
Hafeez made his T20 debut against England on 28 August, 2006. The match was played at County Ground, Bristol and Pakistan won by 5 wickets. Hafeez scored an excellent 46, the highest of the day with the bat, from 40 deliveries including 5 fours.
Hafeez’s 8-year old career includes 15 Tests, 64 ODIs and 21 T20s. His scorecard contains 849 Test, 1410 ODI and 366 T20 runs. He has 8 Tests, 49 ODI and 12 T20 wickets to his credit. Hafeez has scored 3 centuries and 11 fifties.
Hafeez has also played for the Indian Premier League’s Kolkata http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Knight-c71599 Riders franchise. Now Hafeez’s playing the second ICC World Cup of his career. He stands in the top-order in the list of Pakistani batsmen. His constant and solid performances may take
his side to the verge of victory. On the other hand, if he fails, the team will be hard pressed to find an alternative.
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