ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s seasoned all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez believes Mickey Arthur was the most powerful coach in the history of Pakistan cricket, saying everything went according to his way.

“Whatever Mickey wanted, whether it was good or bad, it was done. He was given a lot of powers which the other coaches lacked. There were also double standards and favouritism during his time, Hafeez said while talking to a private news channel.

To a question, the experienced player said he liked former coaches late Bob Woolmer and Mohsin Khan who had been associated with the national team in the past.

“Bob was a great coach, he was good on basics and setting conditions and also made good combinations in the team. On the other hand, Mohsin holds good sense of cricket and he really impressed me,” he said.

Hafeez added, “We have good former cricketers in the country whose skills should be utilised.”

Speaking about his retirement, Hafeez who will be 40 in October when this year’s ICC Twenty20 World Cup starts in Australia, said he was seeing himself retiring after the global event Down Under.

“I want to retire respectfully after the T20 World Cup but will continue playing leagues around the world as long as I am fit and performing,” Hafeez, who scored 1,992 runs in 91 T20 Internationals at an average of 25.21, said.

Hafeez, who collected 3,652 runs at 37.64 in 55 Tests, said Indian batting genius Virat Kohli and Pakistan’s young sensation Babar Azam should not be compared. “Kohli is a brilliant cricketer and Babar is also playing exceptionally well. Both have their own class,” he said.

Hafeez, who scored 6,614 runs in 218 ODIs averaging 32.90, also lauded the Pakistan Cricket Board, government and the armed forces for staging all the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 matches in the country. “People missed this type of festivity for the past 10 to 12 years,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2020