DUBAI – Veteran Pakistan star Mohammad Hafeez celebrated his recall with acentury in the first Test against Australia on Sunday and revealed his wifehad persuaded him not to quit the sport.
Hafeez, 37, capped his return to the Test team after a gap of two yearswith a brilliant 126, helping his team to 255-3 on the first day of theopening match in Dubai.
Hafeez had decided to announce his retirement from cricket but wife Naziaand former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar stepped in to persuade him hestill had a role to play.
“I was mentally disturbed after being dropped from the Asia Cup team,” saidHafeez of last month s axing from the one-day side.
“I could have taken a drastic step but I was stopped by my wife and thenShoaib Akhtar phoned me as well.”
Hafeez, who also did not play in any of the five one-day internationals inZimbabwe in July despite being in the squad, hailed his teammates.
“I could have been doing something else (had I retired),” said Hafeez afterputting on a solid 205-run opening stand with Imam-ul-Haq who made a careerbest 76.
Read Top Stories
“But probably this was the place where I had to stage a comeback. When Icame back in the team all the players welcomed me and gave me confidenceand that increased my inner energy.”
Hafeez was dropped from the Test side after faring poorly in the firstthree matches of Pakistan s series in England two years ago.
“I am very happy after this hundred. I tried my level best in the lastcouple of years to get back into this format and I am so happy to get achance after a long time.
“I had no fear at all. I really backed myself and I knew that whenever itis the right time I will perform.” – APP/AFP
