LAHORE: Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, who captained his national team in every format of the game, announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday, saying that he achieved more than he could ever imagine during a career spanning nearly two decades.
The 41-year-old top-order batter and off-spinner had announced his retirement from Test cricket in 2018.
Hafeez represented Pakistan in 392 international matches in which he scored 12,789 runs and took 253 wickets.
“Today I say good-bye to international cricket with pride and satisfaction. In fact, I have earned and accomplished more than I had initially envisaged and for that, I am thankful to all my fellow cricketers, captains, support staff and the Pakistan Cricket Board…,” Hafeez said in a statement posted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
He played 55 Tests, 218 ODIs and 119 T20Is for the country including three ICC ODI World Cups and six T20 World Cups.
“…of course, my family who made big sacrifices to ensure I achieved my aspirations of representing Pakistan at a global stage,” said Hafeez.
His international debut came in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2003 and his last match was Pakistan’s defeat to Australia in the T20 World Cup semi-final last November.
“I am extremely fortunate, lucky and proud to have been considered worthy of donning the national kit with Pakistan emblem for 18 years.
“When you have a professional career as long as mine, you’re bound to have your share of highs and lows, and I was no different.
“Results apart, I can say with conviction that I had more highs as I had the privilege of playing with and against some of the finest exponents of the bat and the ball of my era,” Hafeez said.
During a successful career, he won 32 Player-of-the-Match awards, the fourth-highest among Pakistan players in all international cricket, with only Shahid Afridi (43), Wasim Akram (39) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (33) placed ahead of him.
Besides, Hafeez also earned nine Player-of-the-Series awards, which made him joint-second in the all-time list with Imran Khan, Inzamam and Waqar Younis.
He was a member of the Pakistan side that won the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England and Wales.
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