Mohammad Hafeez criticizes Pakistan’s pacers, saying, “Depends on the will of a player,” citing workload management.

Mohammad Hafeez, a former batter for Pakistan, has criticized the bowlers’ choice, made when he was team director, to put workload control first. Hafeez’s job was terminated, as announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), a mere three months following his hiring. He voiced contempt for the idea of workload management, which has gained traction in cricket as a result of the hard international schedule and involvement in numerous T20 leagues across the globe. He claimed that these kinds of factors were uncommon when he was a player.

The players in issue are thought to have been bowlers like Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, even though he did not mention any names. Afridi was rested for the last Test match of the series, while Rauf pulled out of the most recent Australia Tests due to workload concerns. The disheartening 0-3 rout that concluded Pakistan’s series against Australia had many questioning the team’s tactics and player management.

“In the eighteen years that I have played cricket, we have never heard of this before. It is contingent upon the player’s will. He’ll play if he feels like it or he’ll talk about how much work he has on. After only two months in the team, I found it challenging to comprehend workload management. Mohammad Hafeez stated in an interview with A Sports that while managing fast bowlers’ workload is important, it doesn’t imply that they will bowl for just four overs.

Mohammad Hafeez instructs Pakistani pacers by using Shamar Joseph as an example.

Hafeez went on to use Shamar Joseph’s story, a young West Indies bowler, as evidence against the need for workload control in cricket. Despite suffering a toe injury earlier in the match, Joseph’s incredible feat saw him bowl 12 straight overs in the second Test against Australia. The remarkable 7 for 68 performance of the 24-year-old was crucial to the West Indies’ historic eight-run triumph at the Gabba. Hafeez utilized this situation to challenge the widely held belief that athletes should limit their workloads.

“You should be able to carry out your game plans with the assistance of your practice and preparation. A hitter doesn’t declare he’s done and won’t be back after reaching100,150, or 200. Twelve overs in a row were bowled by Shamar Joseph. Thankfully, the phrase “workload management” did not cross his mind,” Mohammad Hafeez continued.