Pakistan’s ex-captain Hafeez retires from international cricket

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez announced his retirement from international cricket Monday, ending an 18-year career.

The 41-year-old last played for his country at the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October-November last year when Pakistan lost in the semi-final to eventual champions Australia.

Having retired from Test cricket in 2018 and not figuring in Pakistan’s one-day international squad since the 2019 World Cup, Hafeez decided it was the right time to quit all formats.

“I played with pride and satisfaction,” the veteran of 55 Tests, 218 ODIs and 119 Twenty20 internationals told a news conference in Lahore.

“In fact, I have earned and accomplished more than I had initially envisaged.”

Hafeez scored 3,652 runs and took 53 wickets at Test level, while his tally in the limited-overs game was 6,614 runs and 139 wickets.

Hafeez is Pakistan’s second-highest run-scorer in the T20s with 2,514 and also has 61 international wickets in the shortest format.

An off-break bowler, his action was deemed illegal on four occasions and he was banned from bowling for a year in July 2015.

Hafeez captained Pakistan in 29 Twenty20 matches, winning 17. He also led the team once at the Test level and twice in ODIs.

ARR