After an all-round performance of quickfire 45 off 36 balls and an economical bowling spell against New Zealand in the opening match of T20I series, veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez said his goal is to play every game as his last for Pakistan.
“In this comeback, my goal is to play each game as it was my last game for Pakistan,” he told reporters after the game.
Hafeez was happy that his performance was instrumental in the team’s victory in the first T20I.
“I’ve been given permission by captain Sarfraz Ahmed to talk to the youngsters on the field as the idea is to share experience and the all the guys are responding well,” said Hafeez. “We have a young team and the idea is to give them a message of conviction. Whenever, I am standing next to a youngster, I always tell him that do what your heart tells you to do.”
“First of all I am happy that I helped in Pakistan’s win today [on Wednesday] and my contribution as an all-rounder was a good one,” he said. “This was missing from before so I am very happy to do that job for Pakistan. What I am trying to do is to make sure whatever situation I get, I help my team gain the momentum.”
On the team’s overall performance in the first T20I against New Zealand, the Peshawar Zalmi all-rounder praised the bowling unit but also admitted the home side was 10 to 15 runs short of their target.
“Today it seems that we were 10-15 runs short but our bowlers did well to restrict the opposition and that is more important,” he said.
He credited the youngsters for the sublime winning streak. “As a bowling unit, our confidence is very high. Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled well and Faheem also started well,” he said.
The remaining two T20I matches between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played in Dubai on Friday and Sunday. The two teams will also play three Tests and One-Day Internationals (ODI).
