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22.03.2025
### Mohammad Hafeez Addresses Controversy Surrounding Comments on Pakistan’s 90s Cricket Icons
**By the NDTV Sports Desk**
**Updated: March 19, 2025, 11:14 AM IST**
**Estimated Read: 2 minutes**
In light of recent contentious comments about Pakistan’s cricket legends from the 1990s, Mohammad Hafeez has taken steps to clarify his statements. The veteran cricketer’s remarks, which suggested that these luminaries failed to inspire future generations by securing major ICC titles, have sparked considerable debate.
The dynamics within Pakistan’s cricket fraternity have been strained following the national team’s premature exit from the ICC Champions Trophy. Hafeez’s critique targeted revered figures such as Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, and Shoaib Akhtar, pointing out their lack of victories in significant tournaments during that decade. His comments insinuated that this lack of success failed to lay a winning foundation for subsequent players.
Hafeez, in his initial critique during a Champions Trophy discussion on Pakistani television, stated, “While I am an admirer of our 1990s players, I must assert that their legacy falls short. They did not capture a major ICC event, suffering defeats in the World Cups of 1996, 1999, and 2003. We reached the 1999 final but faltered disappointingly.”
Despite his claims, it is acknowledged that cricketers from that era, including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and others, are celebrated as among the finest ever produced by Pakistan.
Following an outpouring of criticism, Hafeez has sought to provide context for his earlier comments. He clarified that his intent was not personal critique but rather a commentary on team achievements and their impact on inspiring future talent. Hafeez remarked, “Media outlets are misconstruing my words. My discussion was centered on the importance of teams winning ICC tournaments to inspire succeeding generations. I mentioned that despite their immense skill, our greats couldn’t win ICC events in 1996, 1999, and 2003 post the 1992 World Cup. My intention was never to single out individual players.”
The scrutiny of Pakistan’s team has intensified, especially after their 9-wicket loss to New Zealand in the first T20I of a five-match series.
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