Former England skipper Michael Vaughan on Saturday did not waste time to take a potshot at former Pakistani player Mohammad Hafeez for questioning the integrity of Virat Kohli. Immediately after England handed out a 93-run defeat to Pakistan, ensuring their formal exit from the World Cup, Vaughan took to social media to heap embarrassment on Hafeez.
Tagging Hafeez on Twitter, Vaughan wrote, “Maybe Pakistan’s batters need to be a bit more selfish like Virat @MHafeez22.”
Hafeez had called Kohli a selfish player saying that his record-equalling 49th ODI century against South Africa demonstrated his selfish nature. Hafeez had alleged that Kohli should have gone for big shots in the dying moments of the Indian innings but he chose to steal singles to complete his century.
“To me the approach (by Kohli) to score the last three runs once he reached 97 was wrong. You are thinking about your own milestones in the 48th, 49th and 50th over and not about the team…I know it’s natural for you to think about your personal milestone, but you are representing your country,” Hafeez had said on a Pakistani TV channel.
On Saturday, Pakistan needed to defeat England by more than 275 runs to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-final. But their poor performance continued and the side lost to England by 93 runs.
Batting first, England posted a total of 337-9 in 50 overs. Ben Stokes made 84, while Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow contributed with 60 and 59 respectively.
Pakistan were all out for 244 in 43.4 overs. The star of England’s win was David Willey, who took three wickets and scored quickfire 15 runs. It’s ironic that the England and Wales Cricket Board recently did not deem Willey worthy of a contract, forcing the player to announce his retirement from international cricket in the middle of the World Cup. However, he’s been the most effective English player in the ongoing World Cup as he impressed both with the bat and the ball. He took his 100th ODI wicket in Saturday’s match and was given the honour of leading the team out for national anthem at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.
Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan had slammed the ECB for not awarding Willey a central contract. “Final thought on today … The England contract situation is one that should have been dealt with before the WC .. if not leave it till after .. I just don’t get how 28 players received some kind of contract yet David Willey who is playing in the WC didn’t get one !!!!!!!!! #OnOn,” Vaughan had written.