Mohammad Hafeez ready to delay retirement if T20 World Cup is postponed

The multifaceted Pakistani Mohammad Hafeez said Monday (June 15) that he will delay his plans to withdraw from the T20 format if the ICC decides to postpone the T20 World Cup scheduled for Australia in October.

Hafeez said he wants to finish his T20 career after playing a great tournament. The fate of the 2020 T20 World Cup remains undecided due to the coronavirus pandemic. "I thought a lot about the withdrawal of T20 cricket after the World Cup. Just like when I retired from the Cricket Test, I decided to withdraw on my own terms. It took into account my own goals as well as the interests of Pakistan cricket" Hafeez said in a video conference.

"I want to retire from T20 cricket after playing a great tournament in which I perform well, and I hope to come out on a winning note. This is my plan, and if the World T20 is postponed to November or at some later time, that is not" "I don't want to play it," he added.


Previously, Australian Sports Minister Richard Colbeck had expressed his hope that the country still hopes to host the tent tournament in October. "The Federal Government continues to work closely with the Local Organizing Committee and state governments in planning the Men's T20 World Cup. Our decisive response to the pandemic and the nation's ability to flatten the virus curve has resulted in launching a three-step framework for COVID security in Australia. This has included the phased return of the sport at all levels, "Colbecktold ANI.

He added that if ICC World T20 goes as planned, then the number of spectators coming to the stadium may be reduced due to possible restrictions in different states and territories. "It will not be without obvious precautions. Australian states and territories are responsible to implement arrangements regarding the resumption of sport in each jurisdiction. This may result in restrictions on the number of spectators, but in what capacity is not yet clear. We remain committed to the implementation and support of measures to keep players and Sure viewers. Any decision regarding the tournament is ultimately a matter for the ICC, "Colbeck had said.