Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez announces Test retirement

Pakistan is currently playing the final Test match of the series against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi and veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has proclaimed his intentions to retire from this format following the conclusion of this game. After stumps on Day 2, he expressed his desire to call it time on his Test career. Hafeez said that his time is up and thus he is happy while making his announcement.

The 38-year-old who made his debut more than a decade and a half ago against Bangladesh in 2003 is playing the 55th Test match of his career and has thus far scored 3644 runs which include 10 centuries and 12 half-centuries. He has managed an average of 38.35 in his career, an off-break bowler Hafeez has also picked 54 wickets for hsi team. He took the opportunity to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as well as the team management for their support throughout.

Time is up

“I feel time is up,” said Hafeez in the press conference after the conclusion of the day. “I am announcing my retirement and feel happy that I worked hard in my career.”

“I feel like I’ve worked hard for past 15 years of my career. Thank you very much to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), they helped me in each and every step of my career. I would also like to thank all my teammates to whom I share the dressing room and the team management, who guided me throughout in this journey,” he added.

Downgraded contract

Earlier this year when the PCB released the list of its contracted players for the year, Hafeez was downgraded from Grade A to B. There were reports that he was contemplating retirement immediately after, however, he had quashed the speculation and continued to play all the three formats.

In the ongoing series against the Kiwis he could just score 39 runs in the first four outings of the ongoing series. While most of the regular batsmen have produced consistent performances, he wasn’t able to pull his weight. It would’ve served as the final nail and he made a swift decision. The next tour for the Men in Green is the tour of South Africa where they will play three Tests.

Hafeez thus chose to call it time on his Test career and channel his time on ODI cricket with the World Cup just around the corner. The all-rounder has informed the national selectors of his intentions to focus on the 50-overs format. He is looking forward to representing them in the World Cup 2019.

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