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'Team decisions can't be taken on someone's tweet': Hafeez takes indirect dig at Imran Khan in IND-PAK toss controversy
Pakistan PM and former captain Imran Khan had tweeted an advice asking Sarfaraz Ahmed to bat first after winning the toss.
DNA Web Team | Jun 21, 2019, 06:39 PM IST
1.Tweets don't decide team's decisions: Hafeez
Imran Khan had sent out a tweet just before the match. In the tweet, he had advised Pakistan team to bat first after winnning the toss.
4/5 1. In order ro have a winning offensive strategy Sarfaraz must go in with specialist batsmen and bowlers because "Raillu Kattas" rarely perform under pressure - especially the intense kind that will be generated today. 2. Unless pitch is damp, Sarfaraz must win the toss & bat
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 16, 2019
Many have blamed Sarfaraz's call to bowl first as the main reason for Pakistan' loss. However, Hafeez defended his captain's call saying it was a team decision. "It was a team decision and that cannot be made on what someone has tweeted. It was the team's decision. We didn't bowl well and that's why we lost that game," he said.
2.'We failed collectively as a team'
Hafeez also said that Pakistan's dismal showing at the World Cup was hurting the players, who were determined to battle back in a bid to reach the semifinals. "I tell you that to see the team at number nine is hurting all of us," said Hafeez, whose 84 anchored Pakistan's innings of 348-8 in their only win, over hosts England.
"We failed collectively as a team," said Hafeez. "We could not produce a team effort and individual brilliance did not help us either. In cricket these days, you need a team performance. We can't blame any single person. Everyone is responsible for failing to deliver," he said.
"All of us are also hurt by the negative campaign in the media where players and their families were targeted. There was talk of groupings (factions) in the team which was wrong. "Why don't you talk about such things when the team is winning?" Hafeez said despite the perilous situation, all was not lost for Pakistan.
3.All is not lost, says Hafeez
The senior player expressed hope that the team would recover from the slump. He said that the the after-game break from India has given the team a chance to regroup before the match against South Africa. "All is not finished for us. We are focused on our next game and we are eager to win that match. We had ample time after the India game to regroup for a new beginning." Hafeez said.
