Hafeez, Saqlain explode in fiery live TV clash after Pakistan pushed to brink: 'Don't want Nawaz in XI if he can't...'

Mohammad Hafeez and Saqlain Mushtaq clashed on a live TV show over Mohammad Nawaz’s role in the playing XI.

Updated on: Feb 25, 2026, 08:32:43 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Pakistan are staring at a T20 World Cup exit after being undone by a masterful century from Harry Brook, as England edged them out by two wickets in Pallekele on Tuesday. With just one point from two Super 8 matches, their previous game against New Zealand in Colombo having been washed out, even a win against Sri Lanka in their final fixture may not be enough to secure a semifinal berth. They will also need other results to go their way.

As Pakistan stand on the brink of elimination, former cricketers Mohammad Hafeez and Saqlain Mushtaq clashed on a live TV show over Mohammad Nawaz’s role in the playing XI.

Pakistan fielded two spin-bowling all-rounders, Nawaz and Shadab Khan, who conceded 57 runs between them while picking up two wickets, both claimed by Nawaz. However, each bowled only three overs, raising questions about whether they are being trusted as genuine match-winners with the ball.

ALSO READ: Babar Azam undroppable due to ‘politics’, says Michael Vaughan; backs Mike Hesson’s strategy: ‘Insurance policy’

Speaking on the Pakistani show Tapmad, Saqlain was outlining his views on the all-rounders when Hafeez interrupted him with a pointed question about Nawaz. What followed was a heated exchange, with Hafeez arguing that Nawaz should have no place in the XI if he cannot be relied upon to fulfil his primary role as a bowler. Here is how the conversation went...

Hafeez: Is he a batting all-rounder or a bowling all-rounder?

Saqlain: He is a bit of both. You can't talk about him in that manner.

Hafeez: What is his first preference?

Saqlain: I feel he is equally good at batting and bowling.

Hafeez: Then why not use him at No. 5?

Saqlain: He has been. In fact, when I was with the Pakistan team, I made him bat at No. 5. He has the potential.

Hafeez: So, he is a batsman who can bowl? What is his first priority?

Saqlain: If he can win you matches both with the bat and the ball, that means you are equally good.

Hafeez: I have played for Pakistan as an all-rounder. My primary job was batting. For Nawaz, it is bowling. Same for bowling. And if he can't do that, we don't want him.

Nawaz has so far picked six wickets in five innings in the World Cup, at an economy rate of 7.5. In fact, his best bowling figures in the five performances came against England, where he picked two wickets for 26 runs, with both those wickets coming in the penultimate over of England's chase that helped Pakistan reduce the equation from 5 needed off 12 to 3 required from six. Jofra Arche eventually sealed the deal for England in the first ball of the last over with a boundary against Salman Mirza.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.