‘4-5 Pakistan players were sleeping in dressing room’ – Mohammad Hafeez exposes behind-the-scenes scenario

Former Pakistan captain and team director Mohammad Hafeez revealed what happens inside Pakistan’s dressing room. In a chat with Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist, Hafeez revealed that during a recent Test Down Underwhen he was serving as the team director, he spotted four-five players sleeping inside the dressing room during the game, leaving him shell-shocked.

WATCH VIDEO -

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Hafeez temporarily took over this role following Pakistan’s dismal 50-over World Cup campaign in India last year and was in charge until the board appointed a permanent backroom staff in February 2024.

Under his tutelage, the team travelled to Australia for three Tests and faced New Zealand in the away T20I series, losing both.

Revealing shocking details, Hafeez said, “You tell me Gilly (Gilchrist), if a player is sleeping in the dressing room and we are playing Test cricket… Four-five players were sleeping in the dressing room, should I allow that as a team director?”

Hafeez said he was shocked to see some players sleeping, confronting them of this during a live Test match.

ALSO READ:PCB demands evidence against match-fixing allegations; calls for journalists, YouTubers to provide proof

“I really don’t know. I went into the dressing room and found four-five players are sleeping in the dressing room while playing Test cricket. I was like, ‘How come you guys can do that? If you do something like this, you cannot be a part of this team. I want you guys to stay focused during the game,” he said.

Hafeez added that as a team director, he doesn’t get involved in what a player does outside of the game time. But during the match, it’s his responsibility to ensure the players are active and concentrated on the game.

“Off the game, whatever the guys do, it is their own life; I never get involved in it. But in the professional timings of the game, I want the team guys to focus on the game. Stay in touch. If you are a fast bowler, you can have a rest and a good ice bath, but you need to concentrate on the game of cricket, like how the other team is also doing. You cannot switch yourself off during the game, but unfortunately, the media (in Pakistan) didn’t like it,” the former all-rounder added.

Pakistan’s cricket in mud

Following their loss at the hands of co-host and 2024 T20 WC debutants, the USA, and later to India in the next game in New York, Pakistan stared at a shocking exit after the first round, which eventually happened, as USA cruised to Super 8s on better NRR.

Since then, much has happened surrounding Pakistan players – Haris Rauf got involved in a verbal spat with a Pakistani fan over under-the-belt remarks, and Captain Babar Azam and several top players faced match-fixing allegations.

(With inputs from agencies)