Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq strongly disagreed with Mohammad Hafeez’s claim that the cricketers of the 1990s left no legacy. While addressing the media, Inzamam spoke about the immense contribution made by players of that era. He stated that Pakistan cricket would have lost its strength without them while pointing out that even the players who achieved success after the 90s were products of that same generation.
“If we talk about the cricketers from the 90s, Pakistan cricket would not be the same without them. Even the players who won trophies after the 90s belonged to that batch,” Inzamam remarked. “The 90s era has given Pakistan a lot, and such statements shouldn’t be made. Everyone knows what those cricketers have done for the country.”
Inzamam also raised his concerns about the continuous downfall of Pakistan cricket. The former chief selector pointed out that in the past two years, Pakistan’s performance has significantly declined, and if corrective measures are not taken, the team will continue to struggle.
He said, “We are making the wrong decisions and not moving in the right direction. The Pakistan Cricket Board must learn from its past mistakes and avoid repeating them,”.
Hafeez issues clarification
Amid the harsh criticism, the former Pakistan all-rounder took to social media on Monday to post a clarification note, explaining that his statement was not a personal attack on any player but was a mere attempt at highlighting that Pakistan, with all the wealth of talent during the 1990s, managed to win just one ICC tournament.
Pakistan Cricket's decline in form
Pakistan’s struggles in international cricket have been evident in recent years. After finishing as runners-up in the 2022 T20 World Cup, their performances in ICC tournaments have been disappointing. They failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup, winning only four out of nine games.
The decline continued in the T20 World Cup, where Pakistan suffered shocking group-stage losses to the USA and India, failing to make it to the Super 8 stage. In the recent ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan were knocked out of the tournament without registering a single win as the host.
