Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez has criticized the cricketing legends of the 1990s for failing to secure major ICC trophies despite their immense talent. In a recent interview with Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, and Sana Mir, Hafeez discussed the legacy of the 1990s era.
Hafeez said:
“I admire the players from the 90s, but they didn’t win any ICC trophies. They were part of World Cups in 1996, 1999, and 2003, but we never managed to bring home the trophy. The 1999 final loss was particularly heavy.”
Hafeez added that while these players were megastars, they couldn’t inspire the nation by winning an ICC event. He noted that after a tough phase, Pakistan won the 2009 T20 World Cup under Younis Khan’s leadership, which inspired future generations.
Reflecting on recent times, Hafeez mentioned Pakistan’s struggles but pointed to the 2017 Champions Trophy victory as a motivational turning point. He also highlighted how current star Babar Azam has become a source of inspiration, despite not playing a major role in that tournament.
Despite his admiration for the 1990s players’ talent, Hafeez emphasized that they fell short of securing an ICC title.
The discussion also touched on Pakistan’s dominance over India in ODIs, with Shoaib Akhtar attributing that success to his era.
Shoaib Malik acknowledged the contributions of past cricketing greats, including Imran Khan, and playfully commented on Hafeez’s remarks.
The conversation also highlighted the iconic players of the 1990s like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, who defined an era of cricket but couldn’t win ICC silverware.
