Why Mohammad Hafeez’s three centuries are overrated

Mohammad Hafeez made his ODI debut in 2003 and has since featured in 140 matches with a career batting average of 30.95 and a career bowling average of 35.5. Prior to the ongoing series against SL his average was a formidable 28. In the ongoing bilateral ODI series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in which Pakistan has already attained an unassailable lead of 3-1, Mohammad Hafeez has produced the best performance of his career. It has to be said that it’s not an easy feat to notch up three centuries in a series and credit should be given for this effort. With that said, however, we also need to not overblow it and count him among the best Pakistan has produced, as these scores came on placid wickets and against a depleted Sri Lanka bowling attack.

In the past 10 years of his international career, Hafeez has seldom seen the kind of the “up” he’s been experiencing in the year 2013 as he’s among the top scorers in a single calendar year. On paper it looks very promising, however, if we start digging more into his career stats the record looks bleaker and dingier. For example in all of his 10+ season in the international arena, his other great performance came in 2011 where he averaged a whopping 56.33 in 10 matches (in 2013 his avg. is 52.25). But those matches were spread as follows; 2 against Ireland, 5 against West Indies and 3 against Zimbabwe. From 2011 to 2012, Hafeez has one or two innings of any note but then came 2013 when Pakistan met the mighty Zimbabwe and Ireland in the same year again, and believe it or not Hafeez’s batting average went haywire again. Although his recent performance didn’t come against the above mentioned teams but looking at the present SL attack one can easily see why that is the case. This year so far Pakistan has played India, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. Hafeez’s avg. against each team is as follows:

Vs. India = 27

Vs. Ireland = 124

Vs. Scotland = 18

Vs South Africa = 16

Vs. Sri Lanka = 203.5

Vs West Indies = 18.16

Vs Zimbabwe = 232

In conclusion, Hafeez may be an experienced player whose recent performances cannot be ignored, is it sign for better things to come? Let’s hope so, however I highly doubt that. Hafeez as we know and seen him, is not the kind of a player who can be persisted with in the team at the cost of some other young talent who has a far superior technique and stats and who can carry the team forward. We know that this performance has cemented his place till at least the next world cup. This is unfortunate, because the tournament is going to be held in Australia where Hafeez’s weakness outside off stump will be overly exposed and he will most probably become a liability on the team. Some may say he’s in the team for his bowling but a career bowling average of 35.5 is hardly an excuse for his consistent place in the team. So let’s give him credit for a fabulous performance against SL, but please let’s not go overboard with it.