Amidst the aftermath of Pakistan’s whitewash in the Test series against Australia, veteran cricketer Shoaib Malik has come forward to express his unwavering support for PCB Team Director Mohammad Hafeez and Interim Chief Selector Wahab Riaz. The trio, known for their close friendship, has faced scrutiny recently as criticism surrounds Hafeez and Wahab for their appointments despite their recent retirements from playing.
Under Wahab and Hafeez’s leadership, Pakistan have recently faced a 3-0 whitewash in a test series against Australia and Australia. It has further added fumes to the fire as new PCB management faces backlash, however, Malik, while showering his support, penned out,
Dear Hafeez and Wahab, you are doing a great job, you guys have been discussing a lot about our A Team tours, I believe our Ateam is ready when it comes down to ODI & Test cricket. Now let’s make a national team out of these boys…
Hafeez, who recently participated in the US Masters T10 league with the Texas Chargers in August 2023, has been under the spotlight for his stance on discipline. However, a recent incident of missing a flight from Melbourne to Sydney ahead of the third Test raised eyebrows, questioning the very discipline he advocates. On the other hand, Wahab Riaz, initially slated to play in the PSL 2024, announced his withdrawal from the league after taking on the role of interim chief selector.
The criticism they face revolves around their transition from being players to assuming senior roles with limited administrative experience. Additionally, their swift ascendancy to influential positions following the conclusion of their playing careers has raised eyebrows in the cricketing community.
Wahab Riaz’s recent controversial remarks about Haris Rauf added fuel to the fire. Wahab’s comments seemed to put pressure on Rauf, who is primarily a limited-overs player, to participate in Test matches, despite having played only one Test. Wahab’s claims that Rauf withdrew from the Australia series at the last moment contradicted the fact that Rauf never intended to play Tests in the first place.
Shoaib Malik, however, stands firmly behind Hafeez and Wahab, extending his support in a message Both Shoaib Malik and Wahab Riaz were last seen in action during the National T20 Cup for Sialkot and the PSL 2023, respectively. As the cricketing community debates the roles and decisions made by Hafeez and Wahab, Shoaib Malik’s support adds an interesting perspective to the ongoing narrative.
Also, see:
PCB is unhappy with Imam-ul-Haq
