“They couldn’t inspire us by winning an ICC event”, Mohammed Hafeez questions the Pakistan team from 1990s
By Shreyasi Talukdar in an hour
Mohammed Hafeez, former all-rounder and head coach questioned the legacy left behind by the star-studded Pakistan team of the 1990s. During a panel discussion on Champions Trophy, the experts were sharing thoughts about Pakistan team’s heartbreaking performance. Hafeez went a step head and mentioned the 1990s Pakistan team that was a threat to many.
Mohammed Hafeez questions Pakistan cricket legacy
Pakistan hosted an ICC event in nearly three decades but the hosts failed to advance from the group stage. Pakistan were out of the Champions Trophy without winning a single match. No wonder experts and former players have been criticising the Pakistan cricket team and star cricketers since the exit. They have been questioning the talent and strategy, Mohammed Hafeez, former all-rounder, however, had a different take on this during a panel discussion.
On Outside Edge Live, Hafeez questioned the legacy left behind the star-studded Pakistan team from the 1990s. He was sharing the panel with Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, and Sana Mir. Hafeez said, “I am a huge fan of those who played in the 1990s but when it comes to legacy, they left nothing for Pakistan. They didn’t win an ICC event – they lost the (World Cups of) 1996, 1999 and 2003. We reached one final (in the 1999 World Cup) and lost that badly.”
Shoaib Akhtar comes with fitting reply
He further opined, “As stars, as players, they were the mega superstars. But then they couldn’t inspire us by winning an ICC event. Then came a difficult period that we had to go through and then in 2007 we lost the final (of the T20 World Cup). In 2009 we won under Younis Khan’s captaincy and so there was an inspiration for the next generation.”
He continued, “Then unfortunately a bad incident happened with Pakistan cricket and we have still not been able to recover from that. Then we won the 2017 Champions Trophy, that was a huge source of inspiration. People idolise Babar Azam today and that is because even if he didn’t play a big hand in that event, he was there.”
The interaction then saw Akhtar reminding Hafeez about the ODI victories that his side used to enjoy over India. He said, “These 73 one-dayers that Pakistan won against India, it is us who won it,” said Shoaib.
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