After scoring a magnificent ton on his comeback in the first Test against Australia, Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez has revealed how Shoaib Akhtar stopped him from hanging his boots.
Years after serving Pakistan cricket on the field, Shoaib Akhtar might have made another huge contribution to his country’s game. It was his phone call to Mohammad Hafeez that convinced the latter to change his mind of retiring from the game and carry on. And on Sunday, Pakistan cricket reaped the benefits as his century put them on the driver’s seat against Australia.
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With not much going his way, Hafeez was thinking on the retirement lines. But before he could formally announce it, his wife and Akhtar intervened which helped him change his mind. And it was a decision, he is likely to cherish at least for the coming few days.
The allrounder slammed an impressive century, helping Pakistan end the day one of the first Test on 255 for 3.
Hafeez made 126 while Imam-ul-Haq hit 76 to put the hosts on the driver’ s seat.
Hafeez was not a part of Pakistan’s original 17-man Test squad. However, he was added to the squad later on and totally justified the faith with a ton.
Speaking after the day’s play, Hafeez revealed how close he had come to giving up the game.
“I had a few problems in the last few months,” he said. “I could have taken some steps, drastic. But I was stopped from taking them. I could have taken them, my wife stopped me. Shoaib Akhtar specially called me. And at that time I was thinking of drastic steps as I was very disturbed.
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“I think Allah is the best planner and he planned good things for me. I could have been something else this time. I probably think this is the place where I had to stage a comeback. When I came back in the team all the players welcomed me and gave me confidence, and that increased my inner energy so I am very happy at the comeback,” he added.
This was Hafeez’s fifth comeback in Test cricket. But the veteran batsman is not worried with it at all. In fact, he believes, the challenge of proving himself every now and then has made him stronger.
“Look, [even] Younis Khan had to prove himself. Even in his last Test, so it happens with us,” Hafeez said. “It’s like this and it’s tough to make [others] understand. And understand it yourself, how many times you have to prove yourself.
“You are challenged by that, your critics challenge you. They wait for your bad performances and highlight them. That challenges you and it brings the best out of you. That has worked for me and Allah has helped me. I always want to play positive and leave behind all such things.”
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Pakistan ended the day on a commanding 255 for 3. Hafeez and Imam added 205 runs before Nathan Lyon gave Australia the much-needed breakthrough. The spinner dismissed Imam for 76 to end the mammoth stand.
Mohammad Hafeez, dropped on 74 at the long off boundary by Mitchell Marsh, fell to Peter Siddle. Jon Holland than accounted for Azhar Ali as Australia finished the tough day on a good note. At stumps, Haris Sohail was 15 not out alongside nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas on 1.
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