Bringing back tainted players will never be fruitful for Pakistan, says all-rounder.
Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has, on Friday, November 15, made some scorching comments against the match-fixers in the country.
There are numerous cricketers in Pakistan who have been involved in match-fixing scandals, though, they have been allowed including Mohammad Amir by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to resume their cricket careers after the serving bans.
But Hafeez was not impressed the way PCB handles the match-fixers in the country, suggesting the players who tainted the integrity of Pakistan should never get a chance to feel the pride of representing the country again in the game of cricket.
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As per PakPassion, Hafeez said on Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube channel: “I’d like to thank my parents for the upbringing as they set guidelines for me that helped me later in my life, because as you know when you have success in professional life, there are things around you which are not right.”
He continued, “If you have a temporary friend and one who offers you such big things then a red light should go off in your head. I have always been careful and have never made myself an object of controversy – and those who were mentioned in the wrong way, I feel their lifestyles had big issues.
It was my principled decision and is still the same that whoever plays for Pakistan and is unable to uphold the honor of Pakistan should never get a chance to feel that pride [of representing Pakistan] again. Those players are like my brothers and I do pray for them but what they did and besmirched the integrity of Pakistan, I was against that.”
The all-rounder also revealed that he had voiced against the same but in return, he was warned to follow the system if he wants to play cricket for Pakistan. He added, “I raised my voice in this regard but I was told in reply that they will play for Pakistan and if you wish to play as well, then you decide [what you want to do] and I was like really?
Hafeez signed off by saying, “So, I went home and took advice as I did not want to spend giving my positive energy for Pakistan so I continued along with all those players although that was wrong and I still say that is wrong and will never be fruitful for Pakistan. Bringing back any such player will never be fruitful for Pakistan.”
(With PakPassion Inputs)