Mohammad Hafeez misses flight to Sydney after running late

By
Abdul Majid Bhatti
Pakistans team director Mohammad Hafeez. — PCB/File
Pakistan's team director Mohammad Hafeez. — PCB/File 

Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez, who had recently introduced fines for players for breaking the code of conduct, missed his flight from Melbourne to Sydney for the final Test against Australia. 

The third and final Test match is scheduled to take place between the two sides from January 3 to 7 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 

According to sources, Hafeez was supposed to travel to Sydney with the Pakistan team but he missed the flight at the airport. 

Hafeez, who was travelling with his wife, reached late at the airport after which the staff did not allow them to board the plane. 

Hafeez and his wife were at the airport, however, they did not check the time of the flight. Later, the couple took another flight to Sydney after a few hours. 

The management of the team stayed quiet on the matter. 

Pakistan are likely to make one change in the squad for the final Test of the three-match series. Opener Imam-ul-Haq is likely to be dropped from the side with youngster Saim Ayub set to make his debut.

According to sources, the team management is unhappy with Imam’s slow batting during the series so far. The left-hander has scored 94 runs in four innings at a strike-rate of 31.22.

It has also been decided to reduce the workload on vice-captain and star pacer Shaheen Afridi who is likely to bowl fewer overs than he normally does during the final Test of the series.

Shaheen has bowled 99.2 overs during the series, so far, which is the most for both teams.

Australia beat Pakistan in the second Test by 79 runs in Melbourne to clinch the three-match Test series. 

Chasing a target of 317 runs, Pakistan were dismissed for 237 in their second innings on Friday. The hosts thumped the visitors by 360 runs in Perth during the first Test.

Pakistan have performed poorly in Australia, losing 16 Tests on the trot with their last win in 1995.