I felt bad for the sport: Mohammad Hafeez questions Team India's intent during 2019 World Cup match vs England
Mohammad Hafeez
Veteran Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez has questioned Team India’s intent during their ICC World Cup 2019 round-robin match against England, where the Men in Blue suffered a crushing defeat to the eventual world champion. While Hafeez didn’t blame the Indian team for losing the match deliberately, the all-rounder said he didn’t see match-winning intent from them.
Had India won the match against England, Pakistan’s chances of making it to the semi-finals would have increased. However, England defeated India by 31 runs to crush Pakistan’s chances to qualify to the knockouts. Hafeez said that as a fan, he didn’t see any match-winning intent and felt bad for the sport.
ALSO READ:September IPL 2020 in Sri Lanka is viable option, opines Sunil Gavaskar
I felt bad for the sport: Mohammad Hafeez
"Ask any cricket fan, everyone will say intent to play with the spirit was not there. I don't know about the results and who went out because of that. We played good cricket and we were out because of our small mistakes. So I can't blame any result for that," Hafeez said during a video conference organised by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
"But as a fan, if I see the match, I did not see the match-winning intent. I felt bad for the sport. The encounter factor was missing where both teams were playing to win. The mistakes we made, we failed to tick a few boxes in the 2019 World Cup. But as a fan, that is my opinion about that game," he added.
)
‘Kill all in the name of...’: FBI arrests 21-year-old over alleged ISIS-inspired mass-casualty attack plot
)
Space mines, lasers & robotic arms: Lt Gen Pannu decodes US disclosure of weapons in space
)
Bitter Zelensky snubs Trump for playing politics with Ukraine war | Gravitas
)
Passengers scream as Iran flight suffers mid-air scare: Boeing 737 shakes violently after take-off | VIDEO
)
US fires up to 70 interceptors against Iran attack on Jordan, putting supplies under pressure
)
India’s imports from Russia jump 57% in five months; China remains top import source
)
‘US military task force aiding Saudi Arabia forces with intel, planning support’: Official
)
OpenAI boss Sam Altman repeats AI 'slow down' call, says world 'right to be afraid'
)
Top military commanders from US, Israel, and 7 Arab nations held secret meeting on Iran War
)
Sydney Sweeney defends provocative ad choice, the internet is still not impressed
)
'Definitely feel bad for yourself': Kuldeep Yadav opens up on India Test snubs
)
Ex-India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh wants India to avoid 'massive changes' before ODI World Cup 2027
)
Ed Sheeran’s US tour loses all support acts after Macklemore’s removal | Controversy explained
)
China's property crisis deepens as investment plunges nearly 20%
)
Messi set to play in farewell match on October 6 in Argentina vs Benin friendly
)
2,200 people donate Rs 1.5 crore for 'docile' Georgia donkey 'HeeHaw' shot dead by police officer
)
Putin-linked Russian oligarch, Melania links: Why Trump skipped his son’s Bahamas wedding bash?
)
800 million years old - Scientists discover 'fingerprints' of supercontinent Gondwana in ancient rocks
)
Trump's name cannot return to Kennedy Center, US judge rules
)
Water equivalent to two Pacific Oceans could be stashed 2,900 km inside Earth
)
1,200 Indian and US troops begin high-altitude and desert drills
)
Ex-CIA officer caught with gold bars worth $40 million seeks plea deal | Gravitas
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (September 14-20, 2026): Lust Stories 3, Waiting Hai, Irumudi- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Trump's Iran war faces fresh House rebuke; 7 Republicans join Democrats in push to end conflict ahead of midterms
)
US Treasury yields cross 5% as Scott Bessent warns of ‘global issues’ impacting bonds
)
Who is Kalyan Bainsla, accused in the Gurugram hit-and-run case involving woman biker?
)
Saudi Arabia discovers 110 million tonnes of Uranium-rich ore in Madinah region
)
'Now Trump is copying us': Shivakumar links US $5,000 plan to Congress guarantees
)
Elephants hide behind trees, stage surprise attack on poachers targeting rhinos in South Africa
)
Los Angeles helicopter crash: At least three dead, several injured; NTSB to investigate
)
West Bengal IPS officer Bushra Bano transferred after objections to ‘Assalamualaikum’, ‘Inshallah’
)
India summons top Pakistan diplomat after Pak Navy ship collides with Indian warship at high seas
)
Spanish officer sent home from NATO base over affair with 'Russian spy' | Gravitas
)
Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of drone attack on Mecca, first-ever red alert in Islam's holiest site sparks panic
)
'Like a thug you are using agency to go after..': Kash Patel grilled by Senate Democrats over FBI firings, journalist investigations and hiring policy
ALSO READ:Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts set to be axed: Report
Numerous former Pakistan cricketers including Abdul Razzaq have blamed India for losing the match deliberately.
The matter heated up after Ben Stokes, in his book, wrote that he was surprised to see no or little intent from MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav during India’s chase of the 338-run target.
"Arguably, the way MS Dhoni played when he came in with 112 runs needed from 11 overs was even stranger. He appeared more intent on singles than sixes. Even with a dozen balls remaining, India could still have won. There was little or no intent from him (Dhoni) or his partner Kedar Jadhav. To me, while victory is still possible you always go for broke," he had written.