Mohammad Hafeez Announces Retirement From International Cricket
Mumbai: Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday. After making his debut against Zimbabwe on 3 April 2003, the all-rounder has decided to retire after 18 years.
Hafeez represented Pakistan in 392 international matches, in which he scored 12,780 runs and took 253 wickets, besides captaining the team in 32 international matches.
He was a member of the Pakistan team that won the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England and Wales. Overall, Hafeez has won three 50-over World Cups (2007, 2011, and 2019), six 20-over World Cups (2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2021), and three ICC Champions Trophy (2006, 2013, and 2017).
“Today I say goodbye to international cricket with pride and satisfaction. In fact, I have earned and accomplished more than I had initially envisaged and for that, I am thankful to all my fellow cricketers, captains, support staff and the Pakistan Cricket Board who helped me out during my career,” read Hafeez’s statement in an official Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) release.
“And, of course, my family who made big sacrifices to ensure I achieved my aspirations of representing Pakistan on a global stage. I am extremely fortunate, lucky, and proud to have been considered worthy of donning the national kit with the Pakistan emblem for 18 years. My country and my team have always been at my forefront and therefore, every time I stepped onto the field, I tried to raise their profile and image by playing hard and tough but within the rich traditions of the spirit of cricket,” he added.
In the ICC Player Rankings, Hafeez holds the highest Test rankings at 22nd in batting, 29th in bowling, and fifth among all-rounders. In the ODI rankings, Hafeez’s highest ranking was 13th in March 2014, while he topped the bowling and all-rounder charts in August 2012 and January 2013 respectively.
Hafeez’s rankings in T20I were equally impressive, peaking to ninth in batting in February 2007, third in bowling in August 2013, and number-one in all-rounders in March 2014.
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