Hafeez Calls for Babar and Rizwan to Earn Their Places in the Team

Former Pakistan cricket captain Mohammad Hafeez has voiced strong criticism regarding the performances of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. He suggested that Salman Ali Agha is currently a more deserving player for the national side.

In a statement on a digital platform, Hafeez specified that significant players are those who secure victories, highlighting that Rizwan and Babar have not consistently delivered match-winning performances recently.

“It is inaccurate to label them as key players. Currently, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan do not fit the description of Pakistan cricket’s key players. These are the individuals who secure wins for Pakistan.

“Over the last 18 months to two years, consistent performers have been Salman Ali Agha, Saeem Ayub, and Hasan Nawaz. Why aren’t they being recognized? They are presently the players winning matches for Pakistan,” he added.

Hafeez further questioned the justification for Babar and Rizwan’s presence in the team, emphasizing the need for them to validate their positions as essential players.

“I believe Babar and Rizwan need to address their place within the team. They must first demonstrate their value as competent players; the status of ‘key player’ is earned later. While they performed well previously, current results are lacking,” he noted.

He advised them to rediscover their form and also critiqued the performances of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

“Each player must be fully engaged in the game; otherwise, positive results will not materialize. This also applies to Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, whose performances have not been decisive in securing victories for Pakistan,” he stated.

Hafeez stressed that Pakistan cricket requires players who can deliver consistent performances over the next decade, rather than relying on big names alone.

“Our focus should be on nurturing players capable of contributing for the next 10–15 years. The media tends to overemphasize certain players while unduly criticizing others, which is counterproductive. We need to highlight those who are genuinely performing,” he observed.

He also criticized players who undermine Pakistan cricket on the field while maintaining strong public relations campaigns through social media. Hafeez urged the PCB to intervene.

“To improve Pakistan cricket, decision-makers and those implementing strategies must promptly address these critical issues,” he concluded.