AUS vs PAK: Mohammad Hafeez bills Pakistan 'better' team after MCG drubbing

In a tough match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, emotions ran high as Pakistan faced a heartbreaking 79-run defeat against Australia in the second Test. Mohammad Hafeez, the Pakistan team director, passionately asserted that his team was the better team despite falling short in the final stages of the game.

The match unfolded as a nail-biter, with Pakistan making a valiant effort to chase 317. A promising partnership between Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan raised hopes, bringing them within a touching distance. However, the game took a dramatic turn when Rizwan's dismissal triggered a collapse, resulting in the loss of the last five wickets for just 18 runs in 40 balls.

In a post-match reflection, Hafeez expressed pride in the team's overall performance, affirming that as a collective, Pakistan were the superior team.

"We played better cricket as a team. Our batting intent was better, and while bowling, we were hitting the right areas," Hafeez was quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Despite acknowledging mistakes that proved costly, Hafeez highlighted the numerous positives that showcased the team's potential to win the game. Yet, the defeat was marred by regrettable errors on Pakistan's part, with Abdullah Shafique dropping crucial catches in both innings. 

"We made some mistakes, conceding 52 extras which really hurt us. And then crumbling from 124 for 1 to lose five main batters, that was a crucial moment we couldn't win in the game," Hafeez admitted.

Addressing Shafique's struggles, Hafeez explained the decision to make a fielding change."As a team, you always back your teammates if something is not going well for them. But we made this decision thinking if he's not feeling comfortable, Babar is a better slip fielder, so why not make the change?"

Despite the disappointment, Hafeez remained optimistic about the team's future, acknowledging the growth and potential of the players.

"These guys have been training together for the last year. [Abdullah] did a very good job as a slip fielder. Once that confidence goes away from you, you need a little bit of time away from the role," he added.

Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, offered a contrasting perspective, subtly dismissing Hafeez's claim of being the better team. When informed of Hafeez's statement, Cummins remarked, "Cool. Yeah, they played well, but glad we got the win. Doesn't really matter, does it? [if they were the better team]. It matters who wins at the end."