Razzaq issued show-cause notice for criticising Hafeez

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

ABdul Razzaq was not selected for the semi-final of the World Twenty20. -Photo by AFP

KARACHI: Pakistan cricket chiefs Tuesday ordered veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq to explain himself after he publicly criticised skipper Mohammed Hafeez for dropping him for the World Twenty20 semi-final.

The 32-year-old was replaced by fast bowler Sohail Tanveer for Pakistan's semi-final defeat against Sri Lanka last week, a decision which Hafeez said was unanimous.

But when the team returned to Pakistan on Saturday, Razzaq blasted the captain for acting alone.

“I was disappointed sitting outside while the team was losing the match,” Razzaq said.

“I know the team management didn't drop me, it was Hafeez who left me out. He should speak up and admit his decision.”

Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said Razzaq had breached the player's code of conduct, which forbids players from speaking to the media without prior permission from the board.

“Razzaq has violated the code of conduct and we have served him a show-cause notice. He has seven days to answer the notice,” Sarwar told AFP.

Razzaq made 22 in Pakistan's Super Eights match in the World Twenty20, his only appearance in the tournament.

West Indies beat hosts Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday to lift the trophy.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Sport

Three-time champions United, hungry Zalmi set to fight for PSL final spot

Inter’s title charge hits bump in road, Milan-Juve clash ends in stalemate

No team better than PSG, says Enrique ahead of Bayern semi

ram

Oct 09, 2012 09:36pm

freedom of speeeeeech

Recommend 0

Syed J

Oct 09, 2012 06:09pm

All betting syndicates operate from India, not from Pakistan. It is hard to believe that Indian player or official is not involved in corruption. The only difference between India and other countries is that Indian cricket generates loads of money and money talks. The backlash from Indian board and greed of ICC, other cricket boards, players and commentators keeps Indian players and Umpire from being exposed.

Recommend 0

NiceGuy

Oct 10, 2012 02:16am

Saurav, thank you for the invaluable feedback, however, your comment has no connection with this article..

Recommend 0

shahid shabir

Oct 09, 2012 05:11pm

hafeez deserves the same he should be shown the exit door there is no comparison between razaak and hafeez razaak is a world class player and hafeez not even his dust i would love to see hafeez out and razaak in.

Recommend 0

shadab

Oct 09, 2012 04:14pm

Stop action again Abdul Razzak because what he says is truth. Apart from this, Mohammed Hafeez should remove as captain of the team because he sink Pakistan from his bad decision.

Recommend 0

Justanumber

Oct 09, 2012 03:49pm

Yeah, check the source of this report "Indian TV" which say it all about the credibility of the news!

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Oct 09, 2012 05:18pm

heard today that the sting operation was conducted by an indian chanel, and very interestingly all the umpires involved belonged to rival teams and no indian umpire was questioned. shows that indian cricket board and media is biased.

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Oct 09, 2012 02:15pm

Thats the problem with our nation. We just cannot think in logical and legal terms. This show cause is for a player breaching his contract. In case of Hafeez, since he is the most important part of team management, he may include or exclude ANY player he deems fit. He cannot be issued show cause notice as there is no way an outright corrupt act could be proven because one wilh have to go into his brain to ascertain that.

Recommend 0

Junaid

Oct 09, 2012 08:13pm

Razzaq doesnt need to appear infront of PCB. He spoke out truth against our hypocrite admin of PCB and mafia. Razzaq should just send his retirement and leave abroad where he can actually flourish his cricket. Just like mushaq and saqlain did.

Recommend 0

Faraz

Oct 09, 2012 12:58pm

Why don't they issue show-cause notice to the captain for including all those who have no place at all in the team..

Recommend 0

Chaigram

Oct 10, 2012 12:29am

Hafeez is too hyper! He should calm and admit his mistake for not picking Razzak. Besides, I don't think Hafeez has the nerves and brains to be a capitan. Pakistan should look at an alternative,

Recommend 0

Saurav

Oct 09, 2012 12:56pm

heard today that pakistani umpires were exposed in a sting operation on

Recommend 0

M. Toor

Oct 09, 2012 01:13pm

Razzaq'a time for international cricket is over, it would be wise for him to retire now with grace.

Recommend 0

Aayan

Oct 09, 2012 11:23pm

Razzaq Bhai good job. Shame on Hafeez.

Recommend 0

Khurram

Oct 10, 2012 09:19am

Captain's decision must be respected. He can't be on the winning side all the time. Tanvir is equally good player. It's utter indiscipline from Razzaq. PCB is right otherwise every player will start criticizing captain for one reason or the other.

Recommend 0

faz

Oct 10, 2012 09:14am

Razzaq is good cricket player no doubt about that , but team ethics says he should not come out public , the new chairman looks to be doing good for pakistan cricket , should have gone to him and raise his concern , Pakistan cricket is slightly improving after Salman Butt fiasco , they matter should be done resolve internally . Hafeez is not ideal captain but not bad one either.

Recommend 0

Azeem Malik

Oct 10, 2012 09:06am

i think so Abdul Razzaq is most senior as compare to the \Sohail tanveer.

Recommend 0

sunil

Oct 10, 2012 09:06am

No dear have you forgot 2011WC semifinal. we do not have single player from PAK still we won world cup. we are champion and produce player like sachin and kohli. not coward like afridi. akmal brothers

Recommend 0

Azeem Malik

Oct 10, 2012 08:41am

i think u r wrong. because the pakistani umpire also accepted that but its all about the srilankan premier league not in the world T-20 tournament, because they are not short listed ICC against T-20 cup.

Recommend 0

mudassar

Oct 10, 2012 03:08pm

whether he was selected or not razzaq should not in any case criticize captain openly in the public . its totally immature act from very senior cricketor like razzaq. also playing tanveer is not a bad decision either he bowled well in the match.

Recommend 0

Adnan Farid

Oct 10, 2012 07:18am

and yet the players played the world cup semi final and aleem dar stood in the final .. IF ONLY DU PLESSIS had a better IPL contract India could have bought another world cup

Recommend 0

ammar

Oct 10, 2012 06:21am

Thanks man for this great investigative work -- you make us all proud, we give you the cup.

Recommend 0

ammar

Oct 10, 2012 06:20am

Please show cause notice yourself, leave this man alone - he was not picked and the question is why?

Recommend 0

saythetruth10

Oct 10, 2012 09:00pm

Common on Razzaq is as disappointed as rest of the country he mad the comment about Hafiz may be there is some truth to it but does it matter WI are the winner. For his comment Razzaq should be disciplined but in my book I don't see any problem with his Razzaq's comment. Hafiz made some horrible decisions but it was the collective poor batting by senior batsman that caused the the loss and not just Hafiz.

Recommend 0

Keen Observer

Oct 10, 2012 02:51am

I love Abdul Razzaq. I was also of the same opinion that he should have been in the ground. But I absolutely do not agree with his public discontenment with the Captain of the ship. I hope this matter resolve soon, and Abdul Razzaq comes back in the squad, but Captains pick, should be backed, win or loose.

Recommend 0

hassan

Oct 10, 2012 06:10pm

yea razaaq shouldn't speak openly in public but i guess he is right in case of selection he should be selected in a match against sirilanka , as he is very effective against them if we see his prior record.

Recommend 0

Avais Khan

Oct 09, 2012 02:18pm

Is he the same man who faked his injury to play in BD league and made himself unavailable for Pak team earlier this year. He is good enough for domestic cricket only and not anymore for international cricket. Can't bowl, can;t bat and above all can't field in t20. Hafeez made the right decision for dropping him.

Recommend 0

Keen Observer

Oct 10, 2012 02:48am

It proves nothing, its an allegation and needs further investigation. The fact is that the most loving game in the subcontinent is under threat by the bookies, sitting all over. You want to blame Pakistan alone and close your eyes, be my guest, but regret will come to you, if you ignore it as a Pakistani problem only.

Recommend 0

nayyar51

Oct 09, 2012 01:38pm

If Razzaq deserves show cause then Hafeez deserves immediate sacking.

Recommend 0

Sameer

Oct 10, 2012 05:05am

I strongly condemn PCB decision for giving him show cause notice.

Recommend 0

Shahzad

Oct 10, 2012 05:03am

Surav, really surprised to see that this so called sting operation somehow didnt include the indian umpires all together....this shows their intentions of Indian media and Indian mafia involved behind this operation. Sad affair!

Recommend 0

Vaseem Siddiqi

Oct 09, 2012 04:19pm

There is no guarantee that inclusion of Razzaq would have meant TEAM PAKISTAN would have won the semi final. Players like Razzaq, Afridi, Malik, Nazir, Tanvir, Sami and Arafat perform once in a blue moon. If Hafeez made a decision, rightly or wrongly to exclude Razzaq, that is his decision as Captain. In fact most of the players who were part of the T20I squad were bits and pieces players and the TEAM did well to reach semi final. Only players who can be classified as having talent are Nasir Jamshed, Umar Akmal, Saeed Ajmal and Raza Hasan. Umar Gul and Hafeez are inconsistent and Kamran Akmal is only in the team because there is no other wicket keeper / batsman as good as him in Pakistan. Furthermore, Hafeez is a very average opening batsman against good quality bowling. Asad Shafiq is not T20I or ODI player.

Recommend 0

Gul Khan

Oct 10, 2012 05:24pm

He did that out of frustration. Totally understandable, specially when the media asked him and why do we have close doors selection? I want hafiz to answer why Afridi was played throughout the tournament and Razzaq was given One Chance despite the fact he did well?

Recommend 0

zaheer

Oct 10, 2012 04:17am

Indian players, umpires and public is no different than Pakistanie's when it comes corruption and other social evils. same coin same metal.

Recommend 0

cricket fan

Oct 10, 2012 03:55am

Senior player and match winner Abdul Razzaq. Hafeez should be removed from captaincy, Razzaq done well against Australia he should given a chance in semifinal its very unfair.

Recommend 0

Yasir

Oct 10, 2012 03:32am

Hafeez can never compete razaq,,,,,,,this favoritism is since long in selection process,,,they did same treatment at the end with javid meyada,,saqib and waqar younis, amir sohal,,,,,,,,,,,,,razaq should not criticize only hafeez but thrash to death.

Recommend 0

Shaukat

Oct 10, 2012 03:26am

Shaukat-Canada October 9,2012 I think is positive action to speak up -Thank you Razzaq. PBC management and their head are beanch of fools as usual (oppointed by peaple like Zardari type) . and should be removed and replacedm imimmidiatly.The pesident of PBC know nothing about crecket..I fail to understand why he is made the President of PBC.

Recommend 0

Irfan

Oct 09, 2012 02:55pm

..and what crediblity "India Tv" has? Please don't believe everything you hear. Even if it is true, you can not generalize to all players and coaches. Indian players and coaches are no angels either like most people are not aware of corruption in IPL.

Recommend 0

Oct 10, 2012 12:13am

PCB, look at the comments here in and try to sense the public support for Razzaq. Every one wants Hafiz to admit his fault and Razzaq should be pardoned. Hafiz didn't play for the country as he didn't make the best choices du to his personal like or dislike. His captaincy was mediocre and defensive. He should be sacked as captain and even consider to replace him with Ahmad Shehzad in the playing 11.

Recommend 0

bardas

Oct 09, 2012 01:03pm

Razzaq, well done, thanks for speaking up, nation is proud of you.

Recommend 0

Aamir

Oct 11, 2012 02:23am

I was very surprised that Razzaq did not play in the semi finals. However, Razzaq needs to respect the code. Razzaq should apoligise to Hafeez and do whatever is required by PCB. We all need to move on. PCB needs to focus on the challenges and provide the necessary resources to overcome them. As an avid cricket fan the challenge is very obvious...... Our middle order batting fails.... Same challenge as the 1992 world cup. Imran khan recognized that and fixed it by batting first down. Imran and Javed Miandad stablized the innings and I think that is what is required. One would say T-20 is different but the issue is the same. Our middle order just seems to collapse and that is really what needs to be resolved. This challenge will take some time but we will get there.

Recommend 0

kamal

Oct 09, 2012 07:07pm

Stop action again Abdul Razzak because what he says is truth. Apart from this, Mohammed Hafeez should remove as captain of the team because he sink Pakistan from his bad decision

Recommend 0

kamal

Oct 09, 2012 07:10pm

Razzaq is hero.PCB its shamful for you to issue showcause notice to razzaq.Razzaq is the best allrounder in the world.due to hafeez decision to drop Razzaq from pakistani team,Pakistan lost the semifinal t20 2012.

Recommend 0

Oct 10, 2012 12:08am

Not more than the hub of cricket corruption india. Everything in indian cricket is fixed and that is admited by some umpire in india today - go look in to TOI. An indian survey shows that 68% of indian public believes that IPL is fixed to neck.

Recommend 0

ali

Oct 09, 2012 01:32pm

nonsense

Recommend 0

Sada-e-hind

Oct 09, 2012 03:19pm

Yes, of course, i have always thought, razaq is a match winner. So brave of him to say he could have won the match for his country. Well done, razu

Recommend 0

ravens

Oct 09, 2012 04:33pm

dear saurav - you have made your point. you dont have to copy and paste your comment to every possible place on dawn.com

Recommend 0

Branded Content

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.

NTL and Unikrew Solutions establish additional strategic understanding for potential transformation opportunities

Collaboration brings together complementary strengths to jointly pursue high-impact opportunities in Pakistan and international markets.

Indus Cloud signs strategic partnership agreement with PTCL to deliver cloud excellence

The partnership marks a significant step in Indus Cloud’s and PTCL’s joint efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s cloud and data centre infrastructure and expand access to enterprise-grade digital services in the country.