Mohammad Hafeez supports Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam

Australia secured an unassailable 2-0 series lead against Pakistan with a commanding victory in the second Test on Friday.

Pakistan team manager Mohammad Hafeez offered insights and praise for the players’ efforts while assessing various aspects of their game.

Addressing concerns about Abdullah Shafique’s gaps in the field and comfort in the slips, Hafeez highlighted the team’s decision to reinstate Babar Azam at first slip, stressing the importance of supporting teammates in tough times.

Acknowledging Shafique’s potential in the field and attributing his potential discomfort to specific conditions, Hafeez emphasized the team’s commitment to building his confidence for a successful return to form.

“We noticed that Abdullah was not comfortable in the middle. As a member of the team, you should always support your teammates when things are not going well for them. Hence, we decided to send Babar to slip first,” Hafeez said . he said

“Abdullah Shafique did a very good job in the slips. Maybe the Australian conditions didn’t suit him. I still think he is a good player. However, based on my personal experience as a slipfielder during my playing days. Confidence is waning, he needs some time to recover and we are committed to giving him that time,” he added.

Praising Babar Azam’s talent and resilience, Hafeez expressed optimism about an impending breakthrough as the right-handed batsman has been unable to score big in the ongoing Test series.

“Babar Azam is a brilliant player and we hope his big innings will come soon. Even in this innings, the fight he showed and the time he spent in the middle was very positive. The swing, the ability, the defense , and shooting range—it all shows that the gears are in motion for big innings. In my opinion, he has performed very well in the nets,” Hafeez said.

Reflecting on pivotal moments during the match, particularly standout performances from Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, Hafeez highlighted the team’s faith in each other’s abilities. He cited instances where partnerships between Shan Masood and Babar Azam, as well as Rizwan’s resilient performance, instilled hope in the team despite subsequent setbacks.

“Rizwan played an amazing innings and along with Salman Ali Agha, they gave us the feeling that they could win the game for Pakistan. We had a similar feeling earlier when Shan and Babar were batting together. Even when Shan came out and after Babar followed, we still believed we could win the game because we have a lot of trust in each other. Unfortunately, after the Rizwan decision, our team couldn’t fight back like we should have. Nevertheless, I think we played very well — from Day 1 to the last half hour of the game, we were in control,” Hafeez said.

Hafeez also referred to the attacking intent displayed by the team’s batsmen, stressing the importance of playing with confidence and intent. He advocated the batsmen’s approach, characterized by the execution of practiced shots by Saud Shakeel.

“I am happy with the intent of our batsmen. If a batsman is confident in his shot and comes out playing with intent, then I have no problem with that. and he executed it well. There will be no repercussions for us to come out like that,” observed Hafeez.

Hafeez also praised Shan Masood’s leadership in adopting an aggressive batting intent, aiming for a competitive pace of execution necessary to challenge the world’s best teams.

“Shan is the leader of our batting. The intent we need in our batting, he shows it and leads from the front. The best teams in the world play close to 4 RPO (runs per over). If we don’t play at that pace, we don’t can we ever compete with them. San realized that and implemented that aggressive intent into his game,” he concluded.