Mohammad Hafeez responds to backlash over comments on 90s cricketers

Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has hit back at criticism over his recent remarks about cricketers from the 1990s, insisting that his words were misrepresented by the media.

Hafeez had earlier pointed out that while Pakistan had several megastars in the 90s, they were unable to secure an ICC trophy after the 1992 World Cup.

“I am a big admirer of the cricketers from that [90s] era, but when we talk about their legacy, it’s clear they couldn’t win an ICC tournament,” Hafeez had said during an appearance on a TV show.

“They were part of the World Cups in 1996, 1999, and 2003, and despite our strong performances, we lost each time. In fact, we only reached the final in 1999, and that loss was a heavy one.”

His comments, however, triggered a strong backlash from former cricketers and fans, many of whom felt that Mohammad Hafeez was discrediting the contributions of the 90s greats.

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Following the reaction, Hafeez went to social media on Monday to clarify his stance, emphasizing that his words had been taken out of context.

“Some media houses are fabricating the actual content. The context of the discussion was all about teams winning ICC events to inspire future generations,” Hafeez posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

The former all-rounder further explained that his statement was not a personal attack on any individual player but rather an analysis of Pakistan’s inability to secure ICC titles during that period.

“Therefore, I explained how the greats of the game from Pakistan, despite all their cricketing talent, couldn’t win ICC events (post-’92 WC) in 1996, 1999, and 2003. It was never personal criticism of any individual player,” he added.

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