I am waiting to face Steyn again and will clear the whole scenario: Mohammad Hafeez

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Mohammad Hafeez
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Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images)

Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez has been out of favour these days as the selectors now lean towards young talents thinking about the future. The right-handed opener last played during the England tour where he failed and was later ignored for the UAE series. However, the desire to step back again on the field is still in him.

Currently struggling with his form, Hafeez feels that accepting one’s flaw and rectifying it is the best way to deal with the burden of improving. Hafeez was recently quoted by Pakpassion.net as saying, “The decision to drop me by the selectors or the management, I own it as my performances weren’t up to the mark. But when I was captain, I always felt that discarding a key player after one or two failures is not right. Youngsters should also always get a couple of series to prove themselves. I wasn’t completely fit for the England series but I chose to go there as I haven’t played much cricket in England, NZ, Aus. I was fit before the 1st Test.”

The cricketer, however, doesn’t feel he has underachieved as an opener for his team. “I am very proud and satisfied to have maintained an average of 39 as an opener.

One of Hafeez’s most memorable on-field duel was against Dale Steyn. The Proteas fast bowler sort of knew how to get rid of him easily. Hafeez has fallen to Steyn 15 times in all international matches. The Pakistani now want another clash with him to prove himself.

““I became psychologically under pressure against Steyn as he’s an opening bowler while I’m an opening batsman. We have been friendly off the field. I think his success against me was due to my flaws which I accept. He gained success against me in that 1-2 year period as he was the #1 bowler and I was under pressure. I tried to attack him and kept losing my wicket. I am waiting to face him again and this time I will clear this whole scenario, I am just waiting for that time.”

This year might have been filled with ups and down but a good news which greeted him was the clearance of his bowling action from the ICC which enabled him to bowl. Hafeez expressed joy at the news. He said that he enjoys bowling and missed it during the ban.

“Bowling was a plus point for me which helped me a lot and helped to make the team combination strong. I am the only cricketer in the world to have opened the batting and the bowling in all formats.” “The ban of Ajmal and myself before the World Cup definitely played a part as the team combination was spoilt. Misbah had a lot of confidence on us and relied on our bowling so he had to completely change his plans.”

He also clarified his stance against Mohammad Amir. The senior member of the team was one among a few others who were not happy with the return of Mohammad Amir after his spot-fixing ban.

“My stance was not against Amir, it was about a principle. But at the end of the day, it was for Pakistan so I backed down. During the past few years after the spot-fixing saga, we saw how everyone had doubts about us – if someone looks at my clothes and thinks I have got them through haram money then I can’t own that. I saw how people badmouthed us. But at the end of the day, anyone who puts on the Pakistan shirt has my respect and my support.”

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