Journalism of Courage
Struggling opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez could lose his place in the Pakistan team for next month8217;s two-test series against South Africa after scoring only 102 runs in his 10 Test innings this year.
South Africa whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 in test series in February and the team then lost to Zimbabwe last month to squeeze out a 1-1 draw mainly due to lack of batting form of its players.
Hafeez said Wednesday in Lahore that it8217;s 8221;not acceptable to lose a Test match against Zimbabwe8221; and if selectors drop someone 8221;it8217;s always a challenge for that player to work hard and prove that he is good enough.8221;
South Africa is the team against which Hafeez has always struggled,scoring only one half century and a total of 307 runs in 18 innings.
This includes a total of only 43 runs in six test innings in February in Johannesburg,Cape Town and Centurion. He scored only 59 runs in four test innings in Harare.
8221;It lack of form could happen to any big cricketer,there8217;s no tension or pressure on me,8221; Hafeez said.8221;It8217;s not the matter of problem in technique,the ball is coming on to my bat but I am not playing big innings.8221;
A highly unlikely place in a test team for Hafeez could be if he bats down the order at No. 6,where Asad Shafiq bats.
8221;It8217;s not my decision to bat low down the order,it8217;s the job of team management,8221; Hafeez said. 8221;I am always available for the team wherever I am required.8221;
Hafeez is one of few Pakistan players along with offspinner Saeed Ajmal and fast bowler Junaid Khan who have been playing regularly in all the three formats _ one-day internationals,twenty20 and Test matches _ for the last two years. He even leads in Twenty20s,in which Pakistan has risen to No. 2 in the world.
8221;When you play a big innings your body and your mindset start playing according to that format,8221; Hafeez said.
Hafeez scored prolifically in the ODI series against Zimbabwe which Pakistan won 2-1 and was even named Man of the Series,but critics have questioned his ability in test matches.
8221;I was man of the series in one-day series and I scored a century. I was No. 1 allrounder,but nobody highlighted it,8221; Hafeez said. 8221;I am not saying that people should not criticize,but it should be for right reasons.8221;
In 2010,South Africa drew the test series against Pakistan 0-0 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi _ venues chosen for next month8217;s two test series.
While Pakistan batting has been struggling for a long time now,spinners Ajmal and Abdul Rehman give them edge over the Proteas after both ran through England8217;s batting lineup in a 3-0 test victory in the United Arab Emirates last year.
8221;Both teams are familiar with conditions,but we have better spinners _ according to international rankings _ and I hope it will be a good series,8221; Hafeez said.
