Mohammad Hafeez addresses Twitter controversy involving Sarfaraz

Pakistani all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez on Tuesday dismissed speculation that there were hard feelings between him and former Pakistan cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Speaking to Geo News, the Lahore Qalandars players, whose brilliant half-century from the other day helped sunk Sarfaraz's Quetta Gladiator during their PSL 2021 encounter, spoke about his knock.

Hafeez revealed that he had asked the coach to send him in at number three. "I'm happy over yesterday's innings, would like to play my role according to the [team's] demand," the cricketer added.

Hafeez said that he had decided after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 that he needed to focus on his batting technique, rather than "modern cricket".

"In other leagues, batsmen focus on hitting sixes. Hence, I decided to work on my power hitting," he said. Hafeez, an avid player of golf, said the sport helped him improve his batting a lot.

Spat with Sarfaraz

In response to a question, the Lahore Qalandars star said he is always happy when junior players perform. "Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan are welcome additions to the squad," he said. "As a senior, I always support junior players."

Hafeez said that whether it be Sarfaraz or anyone else, whoever performed for the team, he would praise him. "Sarfaraz is as dear to me as other cricketers," he said. "I have never problems with any cricketer so far. I always praise everyone and never compete with a person."

Following the match between the Lahore Qalandars and the Quetta Gladiators, Pakistani fans started sharing Sarfaraz vs Hafeez memes on social media.

The two had been embroiled in a Twitter spat after Hafeez praised Rizwan and said that he was the number one wicketkeeper in Pakistan.

Hafeez had taken an indirect jibe at Sarfaraz when he tweeted to appreciate Rizwan for his ton against South Africa and said, “Congratulations @iMRizwanPak on scoring T20 hundred. U r a Star shining star Wonder how long u need to prove that u r NO1 wicketkeeper/Batsman in Pakistan in all formats of the game”.

This prompted a response from Ahmed who has not been included in the playing XI.

“Hafeez bhai Sb, whoever has played for Pakistan from Imtiaz Ahmed, Wasim Bari, Tasleem Arif to Saleem Yousuf and from Moin Khan, Rashid Latif to Kamran Akmal and even Rizwan right now has always been number ONE for the country and have been respected accordingly,” he tweeted to Hafeez.

“Aur ayende bhee jisko bhee chance milega wo Pakistan ke liye number ONE hee huga. (And whoever is given a chance to play would be no 1 for Pakistan)," Sarfaraz had said.

Following the dispute, a report stated that PCB officials were upset with Sarfaraz and Hafeez over their exchange.

However, in a later interview, Sarfaraz denied there were any hostilities between the two, saying that he had always respected Hafeez and would continue to do so.

"I have no complaints against Mohammad Hafeez," Sarfaraz had said during a virtual press conference on Thursday. "He is my elder, I have always respected him and will continue to do so," added Sarfaraz.