Former Pakistan cricketer and coach Mohammad Hafeez has finally spoken about the events that led to his removal as Pakistan’s T20 captain during the 2014 T20 World Cup, revealing that Shahid Afridi’s position in the team played a major role.
Hafeez said he was asked to drop Afridi from the playing XI at a crucial point, despite Afridi’s status as one of Pakistan’s most influential match‑winners. “I said, how can I drop him? He is still performing well. He’s a big name for Pakistan,” Hafeez recalled, explaining that sidelining Afridi was never his inclination given his impact on the team.
At the time, Hafeez was captain of Pakistan’s T20 team, a role he had taken on in 2012, and had guided the side for 29 matches, winning 17 and losing 11.
Under his leadership, Pakistan reached the semi‑finals of the 2012 T20 World Cup after he succeeded Misbah‑ul‑Haq earlier that year.
However, during the 2014 event in Bangladesh, the team struggled and was knocked out at the group stage following a heavy defeat to the West Indies, marking the first time Pakistan had failed to reach the semifinals in the tournament’s history.
Hafeez recounted how management warned him of consequences if results did not improve, but he stood by his decisions and accepted responsibility as captain. “I am a responsible person. If something goes wrong, I will accept all responsibility. But this was the best team we had,” he said, stressing that the squad was selected collectively with the selectors.
Following Pakistan’s early exit from the 2014 T20 World Cup and amid mounting criticism, Hafeez decided to step down from the captaincy, acknowledging the disappointing performance.
He also disclosed that officials had offered him a deal to step aside temporarily and return as captain after a few months. Hafeez refused, insisting that he would not accept such arrangements. “I am taking responsibility as a leader. I don’t need a cushion or a soft corner. If I perform, I continue. If I don’t, I am out of the team. This is how I play my cricket,” he said.
Ultimately, Hafeez stepped down from the T20 captaincy but continued his international career, prioritizing performance over politics. “If I am not performing for the team, there is no point in continuing. I left the captaincy, but I didn’t stop playing,” he said.
