Mohammad Hafeez has voiced concerns over the country’s legendary cricketers from the 90s, questioning why they failed to secure major ICC titles despite their dominance and immense talent.
Speaking in a panel discussion alongside Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, and Sana Mir, Hafeez acknowledged the impact of that era but highlighted their inability to clinch a World Cup.
The former all-rounder pointed out that despite strong performances in the 1996, 1999, and 2003 editions, Pakistan could only reach the 1999 final, which ended in a heavy defeat.
The right-hander batter emphasized that while those legendary players were icons, they lacked an ICC triumph to inspire future generations.
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He cited Pakistan’s challenging phase after 2003, followed by heartbreak in the 2007 T20 World Cup final. However, he credited Younis Khan’s leadership in 2009 for breaking the drought and providing much-needed inspiration.
Reflecting on recent struggles, Hafeez mentioned that Pakistan had not fully recovered from past setbacks but found renewed hope after the 2017 Champions Trophy win.
Hafeez noted that while Babar Azam had a limited role in that campaign, his presence marked the emergence of a new cricketing idol.
The conversation, which included lighter moments, saw Shoaib Malik acknowledge the strong legacy of Imran Khan’s era, while Shoaib Akhtar took pride in ODI dominance over India, attributing their 73 victories to his playing generation.
