He pointed out that while the players of that era were megastars, they were unable to inspire future generations with a major ICC trophy
06 March, 2025
PHOTO: X
Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has questioned the country's legendary cricketers from the 1990s, stating that despite their immense talent and dominance, they failed to secure major ICC trophies.
During a recent interview alongside Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, and Sana Mir, Hafeez spoke about the legacy of that era, questioning why Pakistan couldn't win an ICC event during those years.
“I am a big admirer of the cricketers from the 1990s, but when we talk about their legacy, it’s clear they didn’t bring a trophy home. 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 made it to the 1999 final, and that loss was quite heavy,” Hafeez stated.
He pointed out that while the players of that era were megastars, they were unable to inspire future generations with a major ICC trophy. He added that Pakistan went through a rough phase afterward, losing the 2007 T20 World Cup final, but finally secured a trophy in 2009 under Younis Khan’s leadership, which provided much-needed inspiration.
Hafeez further reflected on Pakistan’s recent cricket struggles, saying, “Unfortunately, Pakistan cricket suffered a major setback, and we have yet to fully recover. Then came the 2017 Champions Trophy victory, which became a huge source of motivation. Today, people idolize Babar Azam, and while he may not have played a significant role in that tournament, his presence made an impact.”
Reiterating his point, Hafeez said, “There’s no doubt they were talented, but the fact remains that the 1990s stars were unable to clinch an ICC event despite their immense abilities.”
As Shoaib Malik and Sana Mir joined the discussion, the conversation took a lighter turn, with Shoaib Akhtar and the rest of the panel seen smiling. Akhtar then shifted the focus to Pakistan’s historical dominance over India in ODIs, attributing it to his playing era.
"Those 73 ODIs that Pakistan won against India—it was us who won them,” Akhtar remarked.
Shoaib Malik acknowledged the contributions of Pakistan’s past greats, stating, “There’s no denying the solid legacy left by Imran Khan and the era of cricket that followed. They played some exceptional cricket during their time.”
Jokingly countering Hafeez’s remarks, Malik concluded, “Well, now that this video is out, you can’t backtrack! You’ve already mentioned the big names, so the truth is out there.”
