Mohammad Hafeez claims media running negative propaganda against him

 

 

Karachi: Experienced Pakistani opener, Muhammad Hafeez is livid at what he terms as negative propaganda about him in the Pakistani media. 

Brushing aside criticism of his form in England and questions over his batting technique, Hafeez said every batsman got out in the slips and he was no different.

"There is lot of negative propaganda about me in the media but I really don't care but it does upset me when questions are raised about my cricketing credentials," he told the "Daily Jang" in an interview in Edgbaston.

Hafeez, who plays his 50th Test from Wednesday in the third test against England, also dismissed suggestions that his not being able to bowl had added pressure on him to perform with the bat.

"Even when I was bowling I had a very good batting record and average. So there is no extra pressure on me as a batsman just because I can't bowl," he said.

Hafeez said he was upset with presumptions in the media about his knee injury. 

"There were doubts raised over the injury when I was ruled out of matches in the World T20 in India. Then there were doubts raised about whether I was fit when I was picked for the England tour," he said.

Hafeez said the knee injury had prevented him from focusing on working on correcting his bowling action in the last few months.

"But now I'm very fit and I've started working on the bowling action because I'm keen to play a dual role in limited over series against England as it will be a tough one."

Hafeez said he considered his role as a bowler important in 50-over and T20 matches for Pakistan.

"I will try to do my best to get my bowling action cleared now from the ICC experts so that I can also bowl in the limited over series in England," he said.

Hafeez said that the critics who were predicting that the team would be badly beaten in English conditions had been silenced after the historic win at Lords.

"They were silenced and forced to acknowledge our performance but after we lost the Old Trafford test they are again out with the knives. But we acknowledge we played good cricket and couldn't carry the momentum forward to the second test. But it does not mean we are out of the series."

The experienced opener said that he had got good starts in the two Tests but failed to carry on for a big innings. 

"But I am not worried about it because in cricket the big innings will come if you are feeling good out in the middle. But those who say I am only a batsman on Asian pitches are wrong that I am technically weak. That is not the case. Any batsmen can get out in the slips."

Hafeez said Pakistan had a very good chance of a comeback in the third Test as the players were aware they had made mistakes in the second match and wanted to set things right. 

"Don't rule us out of this series."