Muhammad Hafeez and Saqlain Mushtaq (Agency photo)
Tensions flared live after Pakistan’s devastating Super 8 defeat to the England national cricket team, with former stars Saqlain Mushtaq and Mohammad Hafeez squabbling over Mohammad Nawaz’s role in the team.The loss left the Pakistan national cricket team on the brink of elimination. To keep their semi-final hopes alive, they must defeat the Sri Lanka national cricket team in their final match and hope that other results go their way.
During a heated debate on the TV show Game on Hai, the discussion centered around whether Nawaz should be seen as a true all-rounder or primarily a player. Saqlain defended the left player’s dual abilities, while Hafeez insisted that his primary responsibility is with the ball.The exchange soon grew intense.Saqlin: “It’s a little bit of both. You can’t talk about it like that.”Hafeez: “What is his first preference, is he a batsman or a bowler?”Saqlain: “I feel he is equally good at batting and bowling.”Hafeez: “Then why don’t you use him in the fifth position?”Saqlain: “He was. In fact, when I was with the Pakistani team, I made him finish fifth. He has potential.”Hafeez: “Is he a batsman who can bowl? What is his priority? I played for Pakistan as an all-rounder, but my primary job was batting.
For Nawaz, it’s bowling. If he can’t do that, he doesn’t belong to the side.”The live clash came at the end of a disappointing period for Pakistan. Their previous match against the New Zealand national cricket team was cancelled, making the England encounter a must-win contest.Instead, England captain Harry Brook produced a stunning counter-attack. Coming in with his side struggling at 58 for 4, Brook scored a stunning century off 51 balls to take England past the 165-run target and claim a dramatic wicket-to-wicket victory.This result confirmed England’s qualification to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. They have now won all five matches they have played in Pallekele over the past three-and-a-half weeks and will wrap up their Super 8 campaign in Colombo against New Zealand on Friday.
