Mohammad Hafeez - the Professor - Part 1 – Opinion
It is difficult to find a utility cricketer in consumerist times. The days seem to have gone when an array of top quality all rounders who embrace the pitch and be equally proficient in bowling as much as batting. This is despite a wealth of all rounders
emerging from the domestic and Under-19 circuit for countries such as the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. Players who are able to bat with venom, bowl with precision and field with tenacity, are a rarity in times when even tail enders are expected to perform.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 however, is a rare exception and fits the definition of a complete all round package.
Hafeez who is nicknamed ‘the Professor’, only began to exploit his scholarly tendencies recently and was not a regular player in the side for the most part of the early 2000s. A flawed technique which made him fallible to the new ball meant that he had to
fight hard to cement his place, despite bowling some impressive off breaks. His early performances stand in stark contrast to his status as one of the best ODI bowlers in the world today.
The enlightened professor however, really has it all. His canny off breaks and crucial runs at the top of the order have made him indispensable to the team. The fact that he opens the bowling for Pakistan with the new ball, and is a spinner, hints at how
devastating he can be early on. He manages to stifle the run flow of the opposition to the point where silly strokes are elicited as the batsmen get dogged down under pressure.
These attributes have made him the ‘go-to’ man for Misbah Ul Haq whenever the team needs to break a partnership or restrict the smooth flow of runs. With the bat he has an equally important role to play, as his contributions at the top of the order lay the
foundation for a big score. His wicket often triggers a batting collapse, yet whenever he has managed to bat with venom, Pakistan’s progression towards a target, whether it is chasing or setting up a total, is largely safe and sound.
The good thing for Misbah ul Haq and the Men in Green is that Hafeez seldom disappoints in either department. If he fails in one, he makes it up with the other, which is the hallmark of any great player. For a side like Pakistan, which tends to prefer brawl
over brain, Hafeez has also been a calming influence on a pack of players which continue to ooze with talent, yet lack discipline at times. It was thus, not surprising that he was handed the T20 captaincy in the recent http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 tour, after he continued to
become one of the stars of previous T20 encounters for Pakistan, and performed well in the longer version of the game as well. Alongside the wizardry of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Ajmal-c87859, Mohammad Hafeez is now the undisputed pack leader in a largely potent bowling attack.
The 1st ODI of the series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 which was played at Sharjah on Tuesday, hinted at what Pakistan’s professor had to offer and would continue to offer in his team’s future endeavours.
His impressive control over his line and length meant that the Australians had to settle for using their front pad, and smother any turn, which proved to be a hassle. Hafeez was also deceptive when he flighted the ball, as batsmen perished when his deliveries
hurried on to them. These attributes have meant that he is very difficult to score off, and it is not surprising that he has a tally of 88 wickets in 105 matches, of which the bulk came in the latter part of his career.
Continued in Part 2...
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy
Tags: