LAHORE: Let’s take a look at some of the best performances of Mohammad Hafeez as veteran all-rounder announced his retirement from international cricket.
A heartbreaking 99 not-out against New Zealand
Hafeez shone in the second T20I against New Zealand in 2020, reaching his career-high in the shortest format. To reach 99, the veteran batsman whacked the final delivery of the innings for a six. His audacious inning helped the men in green to post a commendable total of 163/6. Following the poor performance by the rest of the batters and an ordinary bowling display, the home side thumped Pakistan by nine wickets.
For his individual score of 99, Hafeez smoked 10 boundaries and five sixes; facing a mere 57 balls. His best score, on the other hand, was painful in two ways: he failed to score his first T20I century, and his team lost the match.
All-rounder Hafeez stunned the World Cup Favorites
Pakistan’s second World Cup match is against England, the tournament’s favourite. Hafeez stunned the hosts with a spectacular all-around performance. With the bat, he scored a sizzling 84 off 62, followed by a match-winning figure of 1/43. He handed the men in green the crucial breakthrough by castling the English captain, Eoin Morgan, for nine.
His brilliant performance helped him to win the Player of the Match Award.
ICC CT17 Final: Stepping up on the big stage
In the most-talked final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, Hafeez showed grit when it mattered the most. Capitalizing on the solid foundation provided by the top-order, he played a furious inning to cement the position of the men in green against arch-rival India.
He scored a quickfire 57 of 37 balls, laced with four boundaries and three sixes. With his boosting inning, Pakistan finished at 338/4 in 50 overs. Later, the men in green crushed India by 180 runs; winning the first-ever Champions Trophy title.
A portent for the left-handers
In his prolonged career of more than 18 years. The right-arm off-break loved to bowl against the left-handed batters. He dismissed a mammoth 137 left-handers in his international career.
According to the professor, the Caribbean legendary batter – Brian Lara also struggled to face the right-arm off-break bowler.
A magnificent century and four-wickets haul in a match
In the first ODI of the five-match series against Sri Lanka in 2015, Hafeez claimed a stupendous record to his name. The batter first scored a magnificent century then made four scalps with the ball. He scored 103 off 95 balls in the first innings and returned with a match-winning figure of 4/41 in the second.
