Mohammed Hafeez started his ODI career in 2003 as the opening batsman, and more than half of his innings in format came from this position.
His role has changed in the last part of his career. Since 2015, he has opened the brawl only three times, with Pakistan preferring to use it at No.4, and at first glance his return justifies the change.
His 120 innings in the top two have averaged 29.76 out of four centuries. In the bouts in positions 3-5 he scored an average of 38.95 and seven tons. His hit rate is superior even in the middle order.
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Hafeez himself still considers # 1 and # 2 to be his best positions. “I’m an opener and I want to play as one,” he told Cricbuzz. This team management had asked me to play an anchor role in number four, because we have new openers that are growing and playing well. I play for the Pakistani team and try to fit into the role I am offered.
“Since I’ve played 16-17 years as an opener since the beginning of my career, it’s very difficult to get the order. I want more and more overs, so I can take responsibility and win games for Pakistan. “
This does not mean that Hafeez considers himself unsuitable for the middle order. He expects his long-term international career to be successful in every situation. “I’m not a one-dimensional player,” he said. “I think I can play any kind of innings, and in my career I have worked many times in difficult and pressure situations.”
He will face some of the highest pressure situations this summer when attending the men’s cricket world championship in England and Wales. Pakistan recently announced its squad. Some experts rated a weak point due to lack of power hitter in the squad. However, Hafeez does not believe that the World Cup will depend on which team is the best when it comes to hitting ball one six.
“You have to play a good innings that the opposition should dominate after you decide,” he said. “You do not win matches by becoming addictive. Rather, you have to build an innings for which we have all the resources. The guys have a solid technique and the right talent to look after. I think we have everything we need to click into the tournament. “
Hafeez also offered an update on his hand injury that had left him out of much of the Pakistani Super League. “I’ve recovered completely now, I’m getting the time I need to get fit after injury, and within a week I can play full games.”
Pakistan’s tour of England begins on May 5 with a T20I, before starting an eight-game ODI series on May 8.
