ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday, closing the chapter on an 18-year-long career.
The 41-year-old batter will continue to play domestic cricket and be available for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022, he announced at a press conference.
Hafeez made his international debut in 2003 against Zimbabwe and represented Pakistan for the last time against Australia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 semifinal.
“I am very happy and satisfied with my career and achievements,” Hafeez said. “These are Pakistan’s achievements.”
Hafeez thanked Pakistani cricket fans for standing by him through the years and accepting his “failures.”
“I am very happy at my journey and I would want them also to celebrate my retirement,” he said to his fans. “I will try to entertain my fans with however much cricket I play in the days to come.”
Hafeez, who announced his retirement from Test cricket in 2018, has played 55 Test matches, scoring 3,652 runs at an average of 37.64. Hafeez has scored 10 centuries and 12 half-centuries. From the 218 ODIs he played, Hafeez scored 6,614 runs at an average of 32.90, scoring 11 centuries and 38 half-centuries.
He played 119 T20Is, scoring 2,514 runs at an average of 26.46. He scored 14 half-centuries.
Another achievement that made Hafeez stand out was his penchant for winning Player-of-the-Match awards, which he won 32 times, the fourth-highest among Pakistan players in all of international cricket.
Hafeez was also a member of the team that beat India in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. He played in all but one T20 World Cup, the one that Pakistan won in 2009 under Younis Khan’s captaincy.
Following his retirement announcement, current and former cricketers and sports journalists took to social media to heap praise on Hafeez.
“Thank you for your guidance along the time we shared on the field. Happy retirement, professor!” Pakistani captain in all formats, Babar Azam, widely regarded as one of the best contemporary batters in the world, tweeted.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul said he knew Hafeez as one of the “kindest and [most] straightforward person.”
“You have given so much to the world of cricket during these years and we will surely miss watching you play for Pakistan. Wishing u prosperity ahead,” he tweeted, sharing pictures of him and Hafeez from their cricketing days together.
Sports journalist Faizan Lakhani shared how Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi and Wasim Akram were the only Pakistani cricketers who had managed more Player-of-the-Match awards than Hafeez.
Former cricketer and commentator Alan Wilkins described the all-rounder as the “flag-bearer of Pakistan.”
“Hafeez, you have been a flag-bearer for Pakistan Cricket over the years you have worn your country’s shirt. Pride in the badge, pride in your own performance and maintaining the highest codes of honor in the game. Your presence will be missed by @TheRealPCB #Hafeez,” he tweeted.
Cricket analyst Dr. Nauman Niaz said about Hafeez’s retirement, “every good thing comes to an end”, noting that he had “adhered to dignity and shown full commitment” to the national squad over the years.
“Mohammad Hafeez thank you for representing Pakistan with aplomb & giving us a handful moments of pure joy. You adhered to dignity & showed full commitment as Pakistan’s star cast. Every good thing comes to an end. Have a prosperous post retirement life. @MHafeez22 well done bro,” he added.
Sports journalist Roha Nadeem tweeted how Hafeez made the ‘professor’ moniker sound so cool.
“He made ‘professor’ cool before any goddamn Netflix show. Not ready for this farewell,” she tweeted.
Sports journalist Mirza Iqbal Baig described Hafeez as “a thorough gentleman in the cricket field.”
“@MHafeez22 calls it a day. His journey from Sargodha as a tape tennis ball cricketer comes to an end, 41 years old Hafeez played 55 Test, 218 ODI and 115 T20 from April 2003 to Nov 2021.”
