'What's more important, dignity or special talent?'- Akash Chopra backs Mohammad Hafeez for his statement on Sharjeel Khan

The 2020 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) may have ended on an abrupt note with the semi-finals and finals getting cancelled due to the rise of COVID-19, but the controversies surrounding it refuse to die. It all started with Mohammad Hafeez replying to a question by a fan on Twitter regarding Sharjeel Khan’s fitness and his return to competitive cricket.

Sharjeel was banned for five years by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for his involvement in the 2017 PSL spot-fixing scandal. However, back in August 2019, the apex cricketing body of the country suspended the ban, paving way for the southpaw to make his comeback to cricket through PSL.

However, Sharjeel could muster just 199 runs in 10 games. But, more than the runs- or the lack of it- it was his shoddy fitness that caught the attention of a lot of onlookers including former captain Ramiz Raja and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

Hafeez, answering to one of the questions asked by a fan on Twitter, had said, “Shouldn’t we set Standards of Dignity & Pride Higher than any other “Extra Talent” to represent Pakistan.”

Shouldn’t we set Standards of Dignity & Pride Higher than any other “Extra Talent” to represent Pakistan 🇵🇰 Just Asking https://t.co/9xxIvcAqM8

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) March 20, 2020

Akash Chopra comes out in support of Mohammad Hafeez

The statement did not go down with the PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Wasim Khan, who lambasted Mohammad Hafeez for criticizing his fellow player on social media while also suggesting him to focus on his own game.

“Current players should not be going up on social media to criticize other players or talk about what policies the cricket board should or shouldn’t have. They can have their opinions about various things about world cricket and cricket in general but not about the rights and wrongs of players and the boards and they should leave that to cricket board to answer,” Wasim Khan was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Former Indian cricketer-turned commentator Aakash Chopra has now come in support of Hafeez. Chopra reckoned that the veteran Pakistan cricketer made a pertinent point and there are very few people like him, who come out in the open and speak on the issue.

“Let Hafeez speak he’s making a good point. These days, people don’t speak out on this topic, which is an issue. He’s talking sense & asked a very simple question that what’s more important, dignity or special talent #Cricket,” Chopra’s tweet read.

This is not the first time that Mohammad Hafeez has voiced his opinion against the inclusion of tainted cricketers in the Pakistani set-up. Back in 2015, Hafeez and Azhar Ali had opted out of the training session to protest against the inclusion of Mohammad Amir in the national side.

Aakash Chopra regarding Hafeez's comments on Sharjeel "Let Hafeez speak he's making a good point. These days, people don’t speak out on this topic, which is an issue. He's talking sense & asked a very simple question that what's more important, dignity or special talent" #Cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 23, 2020