The Professor Mohammad Hafeez announces retirement from international cricket
Former Pakistan cricket team captain Mohammad Hafeez has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career spanning more than 18 years with the Pakistan side. His international debut was in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2003, and his last match was Pakistan’s defeat against Australia in the T20 World Cup semi-final last November.
Hafeez announces retirement from international cricket
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 3, 2022
More details: https://t.co/RYLJ7gp5Ro pic.twitter.com/8PYAfaJlPW
The 41-year-old top-order batter and off-spinner, has signed up with Lahore Qalandars for the upcoming edition of the PSL and will continue to be available for franchise cricket around the world.
As per his ESPN cricinfo, Hafeez played 55 Tests, 218 ODIs and 119 T20Is while amassing 12,780 runs across formats, and grabbed 32 Player-of-the-Match awards, the fourth-highest among Pakistan players in all international cricket, with only Shahid Afridi (43), Wasim Akram (39) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (33) above him. In addition to that, Hafeez also earned nine Player-of-the-Series awards, joint-second with Imran Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis.
Hafeez retired from Test cricket in December 2018, with selectors later deciding to move on from him in ODIs after the 2019 World Cup, where he played his last match of the format – against Bangladesh at Lord’s.
He is the only Pakistan player to have played in all but one T20 World Cup – the one Pakistan ended up winning in 2009 – and holds the Pakistan record for most T20 World Cup appearances. Hafeez also led Pakistan to the 2012 World T20 semi-final.
After he announced his retirement, his colleagues and Twitterati wished him good luck with heart-warming messages.
https://twitter.com/mdk_gul/status/1477901591277555712?s=20Congratulations @MHafeez22 Bhai on a fantastic career. Allah apko hamesha kamiyabi de, Ameen! https://t.co/EHStT6QlRP
— Asif Ali (@AasifAli45) January 3, 2022
Oye Ustaada @MHafeez22 great international career MaShAllah…You have been an outstanding player & a team mate.Thank you for serving Pakistan cricket. All the very best for future Happy Retirement Ustaad G! pic.twitter.com/n2U5bB3kD2
— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) January 3, 2022
@MHafeez22 Bhai, Thank you for your services and commitment to the game of cricket. Happy retirement! https://t.co/Yyy7rXjKSQ
— Mohammad Hasnain (@MHasnainPak) January 3, 2022
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