Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez on Monday (June 15) said he will delay his retirement plans if the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2020 is postponed due to the global Coronavirus pandemic.
The 39-year-old has planned to end his 17-year international career after the T20 World Cup to be held in October-November in Australia but the fate of the showpiece event remains undecided due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 with the ICC taking a final call on the same next month.
Given that, Hafeez said he will wait for the T20 World Cup to take place even if it happens next year before walking out from international cricket, as he wants to retire after playing an ICC event, so he will continue to play for Men in Green since he is fit enough to continue to play at the international level.
Hafeez told reporters during a video conference organized by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB): “My plan was to retire after the T20 World Cup. I will step aside. But yes, I will be available even if the T20 World Cup is postponed. I am fit. My dream is to win a World Cup for Pakistan and then quit.”
The all-rounder further explained, “I gave retiring from T20 cricket after the World Cup a lot of thought. I want to retire from T20 cricket after playing a big tournament in which I perform well, and hopefully go out on a winning note. Just like when I retired from Test cricket, I decided to retire on my own terms. It took into consideration my own goals, as well as the interests of Pakistan cricket.
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This is my plan, and if the World T20 is postponed to November or some later time, that doesn`t mean I won`t play it. I have always lived up to the (fitness) requirements needed to be in the team. I will wait for the T20 World Cup to take place and I will keep myself fit and ready to perform.”
Reacting to Rameez Raja’s comment that the seniors like him and Shoaib Malik should make way for youngsters, the former captain said: “I have been injured a lot of times and I managed to come back. So, it's similar. We need to sacrifice for the game to continue and we need to be ready to do it.”
On the saliva ban, he said: “Life is a challenge. Personally, I feel cricket resuming gives me greater joy and for that, I am willing to neglect small changes in the rule. It will be back and it is a temporary change I feel.”
The 39-year old has been named in the 29-member Pakistan squad for the upcoming tour of England where they will play three Tests and as many T20Is in August-September and the all-rounder said he would be ready to take u-turn if Pakistan needs his services in the Test cricket.
Hafeez signed off by saying, “All these players will go and return in one flight. There cannot be any replacement keeping safety in mind. I hope the situation does not arise where I have to play Test cricket again. But I will always put my hand up if the team needs me.”
(With IANS Inputs)
