New Delhi: Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez, who announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday, outlined the lowest point in his cricketing career.
After announcing his retirement, Hafeez, while addressing a press conference in Lahore, asserted that players found guilty of corruption should never be allowed to play for the national team.
Hafeez said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allowing players who were charged of match-fixing to represent Pakistan was the 'biggest disappointment' of his career.
"To me, the biggest disappointment and hurt of my career was when I and Azhar Ali took a principled stand on this issue, but we were told by the board chairman that if we don't want to play, fine, but the concerned player will play," Hafeez told reporters.
Hafeez clarified that his retirement has nothing to do with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Rameez Raja's stand that he and Shoaib Malik should have retired after the 2019 World Cup.
“No, I had started thinking about my retirement since the 2019 World Cup but my wife and some well wishers convinced me to carry on. But I had started thinking about since then.”
"As far as what Ramiz said or felt that is his opinion and I have always respected critics and my way has been to go out on the field and give reply to them. I have no hard feelings towards anyone in the board," said Hafeez.
Hafeez, who played 55 Tests, 218 ODIs, and 119 T20Is for Pakistan, is ending an international career spanning nearly two decades. He had earlier announced his retirement from Test cricket in December 2018.