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ISLAMABAD: Former captain Ramiz Raja has lauded the performance of Mohammad Hafeez against Sri Lanka, saying that the one-down batsman played like a champion throughout the ongoing ODI series.
“Hafeez seems to be well aware of his responsibilities and is batting very well,” said Ramiz in his post-match analysis. “Hafeez at No. 3 plays spin quite efficiently and effectively and is piling up good scores.”
It is pertinent to mention that Hafeez scored 236 runs in the first four One-day Internationals averaging 59, besides taking six wickets in the first two matches after he was banned by the ICC over suspected bowling action for one year.
Ramiz also advocated the inclusion of Umar Akmal for ODIs, saying the youngster was an impact player who had immense talent but added he was a bit immature at the same time.
He hailed the overall performance of the national side and insisted that Pakistan should remain consistent in their performances in order to compete with the top cricketing nations. The former captain further said it was good to see that Pakistan’s bowling attack has also been strengthened due to good wicket-taking bowlers in the ranks.
Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2015
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Comments (30) Closed
Jul 24, 2015 11:05am
Sorry no place for Umar Akmal in ODI or Test because other players are far better and productive currently.Hafeez is good in all format ,so no issue with him.
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Jul 24, 2015 11:36am
Umer Akman? No way. Despite several opportunities offered to him he continues to behave immaturely besides his attitude problem which he has failed to control. In fact he stands no chance in presence of Sarfaraz Ahmed and Rizwan.
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Jul 24, 2015 11:39am
What does he mean by Top Cricketing nations, regardlesss of where PAK are in the rankings, PAK, ENG, SA and AUS are the top countries, we have to include IND based on their fanbase and financial muscel, but looking at them lately.....
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Jul 24, 2015 11:40am
I think team is very well balancec and there is no change require only team should play each game as a team and responsibilities after all team is PAKISTAN!
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Jul 24, 2015 12:01pm
Hear, hear, hear.
Hafeez has always been a team player and does not foolishly (and predictably) give away his wicket playing rash. I would rather have him in the team any day than Afridi.
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Jul 24, 2015 12:05pm
Sir
Malinga has passed his prime and rest of Sri Lankan bowlers do not have that consistent skills to test the frailties of Mohamed Hafiz, Shoeb Malik and the rest of Pakistani batting line
The real test will come later in the year in the champions trophy where Steyn, Mitch Johnson, Starc will be waiting for them and thereafter the upcoming tour of England against Anderson, Broad etc
Thanks
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Jul 24, 2015 12:07pm
He does puts in lot of effort; is an honest trier, and is a good player of spin and conditions made for that but the question remains whether he has improved even a bit on green wickets or for that matter hard and bouncy one.
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Jul 24, 2015 12:12pm
I don't understand Ramiz's logic. He has always been full of criticism for Azhar Ali, Misbah and the players he like are Umer Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood.
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Jul 24, 2015 12:53pm
With all due respect, Umar Akmal should never be selected because criteria is performance not failure.
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Jul 24, 2015 01:11pm
Mind it Sl are in a rebuilding stage. It's not proper time to weigh M. Hafeez as such a giant. Rather, Pakistan should move with following a long-term intended strategy to showcasing consistency in performance, betterment in management, and not to make or break such a an irrational selection process whereby cricketer like A. Razzak and so others were kept asided and suffered a lot.
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Jul 24, 2015 02:06pm
@Hyder Agree, but remember, the other team should fear PAK, as Irfan, Wahab, Junaid, Imran, Rahat or even Aamir will be waiting for them. Really hoping Sadaf Hussain makes it to the team, as he is worth being included.
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Jul 24, 2015 02:12pm
Hafeez has always been good on asian wickets, however, praise being given by Ramiz probably relates to his mental strength of maintaining that performance despite the other pressures of his bowling action and being banned.
Umar Akmal's addition at No3 on wickets outside of Asia would certainly help the team. He's a very good fielder and would only compliment the side. However, i see a limited future for the likes of Maqsood or Jamshed... personal fitness is so poor. They only drag the fielding down!
I like the energy of the current team, with just a few tweaks - this team has already our performed the ODI side of the last few years. Despite it being a new SL side, its never easy to defeat them at home...also we've got a new side and skipper!
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Jul 24, 2015 02:27pm
wow, another statement by Rameez, and again, same old story, Ummar Akmal. Will he not stop talking unnecessary things and keep his ideas away from PCB. His personal liking means nothing. Akmal had his chances hundreds of times and yet he couldn't make a permanent place in the team. He is lucky to play some good innings and nothing more.
Please keep PCB clean from Akmals.
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Jul 24, 2015 02:27pm
We don't need Umar akmal when we have Sarfaraz(jo dokha nahi deta) and hopefully Rizwan will keep playing like this.
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Jul 24, 2015 02:30pm
NEVER Umar Akmal. Is he performing? No, look at CPL, he averaged 8 runs.
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Jul 24, 2015 02:44pm
@Hyder Let Pakistan qualify for champions trophy
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Jul 24, 2015 02:46pm
Let Pakistan qualify for champions trophy
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Jul 24, 2015 06:31pm
Please let him face dale Steyn, we shall judge his class at that time.
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Jul 24, 2015 07:04pm
Umar Akmal does not know how to place the bowl and thus gives away easy catches and thus he will never learn
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Jul 24, 2015 07:10pm
Enough of U Akmal he is a street cricketer who doesn't have the mental maturity to understand Intl cricket. He has been given 3 years and has failed. Rizwan in a mere 3 months has proven his worth and Sarfraz is doing very well. Besides we need to give others chances, I would like to see Muk Ahmed given a fair chance too. Let not treat PCB like politics in PK where the old and tried linger on forever and always fail. Out with the old in with the new. Naya PCB
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Jul 24, 2015 07:27pm
Umar Akmal cost us the world cup. Throwing his wicket in every match. Don't need him at all.
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Jul 24, 2015 07:40pm
Right now Umar Akmal does not have a place in the team. He will play as a bench player, who will need to prove himself to become a permanent member of the team.
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Jul 24, 2015 10:58pm
Hafeez is a flop batsman only scoring against mediocre bowling attacks on placid tracks. Same goes for Shoaib Malik. Bring any good attack even on these tracks they will struggle to pass 15 runs. Their pathetic average after so many matches confirms this. We want players like Smith Bevan and Azhar ali younis khan who know how to take singles.
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Jul 24, 2015 11:20pm
Yes, Hafeez certainly played well. So did Shahzad. In fact the whole team played like champions. I am very proud of them. I understand that Sri Lanka may not be at the top of their game but so what. A win is a win.
GO PAKISTAN!!!!
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Jul 24, 2015 11:42pm
@Hyder going by current form even Steyn looks like past his prime.Even BD players were all at ease against him.
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Jul 25, 2015 12:04am
Hafeez is a grossly underrated guy. Really quality batter, in fact skipper material. He should be permanent number 3.
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Jul 25, 2015 02:43am
Ramiz had lost the bite and common sense. first he put hurdles on the come back of Aamir in international cricket and now he is calling Hafeez a champion batsman whereas if you recall it was Ramiz who first made fun of Hafeez's technique as a batsman.
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Jul 25, 2015 04:21am
@Fahad Ignore Ramiz.
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Jul 25, 2015 06:56am
Yes Ramiz you said it- Hafeez!
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Jul 25, 2015 08:07am
Kudos to M. Hafeez for his accomplishments on the SL tour, given the personal strain he was under over his bowling action. But as @Hyder has pointed out, the true test for the whole team comes when it faces Australia, South Africa, England and yes, India away from the flat tracks of the sub-continent/UAE.
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