MELBOURNE
National Cricket Team Director Muhammad Hafeez has said that he is satisfied with the performance of the team, the players gave life in the Melbourne Test but unfortunately mistakes were made at important moments.
Muhammad Hafeez also expressed concern over the umpiring decisions and said that if we analyze the entire game, there were very inconsistent decisions by the umpires. It can also cause defeat.
While giving a press conference after the defeat by Australia in the Melbourne Test, Muhammad Hafeez said that in the Melbourne Test, the team was more united and every player was seen playing aggressively.
He said that until half an hour before the end of the Test, we could have beaten Australia in the Melbourne Test. Unfortunately, there was a good partnership in the first innings but then there were 5 outs in 12 hours.
Dropped catches on important occasions but also took good catches, these were the moments in the Melbourne Test that he could not capitalize on and lost the Test.
He said that when Shan Masood and Babar Azam, Rizwan and Salman were on the wicket, the victory was visible, Rizwan’s decision was such that the match was overturned. Goes in and sometimes goes against, the ball that hits three stumps should be out.
Muhammad Hafeez said that Babar Azam is a great batsman, I pray for his big innings, Babar Azam spent time on the wicket, it was very good, there was no decrease in the efforts of the players in the Melbourne Test, it is a fact that the Perth Test was played badly. But the fighting spirit was seen in the Melbourne Test, losing is part of the game, the players fought and lost, so I am satisfied.
He said that none of the batsmen, including Saud Shakeel, hit the wrong short, Saud Shakeel hit the short when it was needed, the major shortcoming in both Test matches was the lack of long partnership.
Team director said that I am not the one to judge the captaincy of Shan and Babar, the decisions taken by Shan Masood in the field were good, Shan Masood wants to play aggressively in Tests, so he expects other batsmen to be aggressive as well.
Pakistan team is at number six in Tests, five teams above us play aggressively in Tests, Shan Masood, the captain is trying to play like this first, it will take time to adjust and time to change zones.
Mohammad Hafeez said that a big shortcoming that was seen on this tour is not being in tune with the condition. Countries like Australia, South Africa and England should go three weeks before, two four-day practice matches should be given, Going only 10 days before will not prepare properly.
In response to a question, Hafeez said that there are slow bounce pitches in Pakistan, each country’s condition has its own flavor, there is a need to bring flavor to Pakistan’s condition.
