WATCH: 40-year-old Mohammad Hafeez smashes 49-ball 100 in BCCI-banned KPL
After a poor run with the bat during Pakistan’s limited-overs trips to Zimbabwe, South Africa and England, veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez finally produced his best in the inaugural edition of Kashmir Premier League (KPL) T20 on Friday (August 13).
Playing for Muzzaffarabad Tigers against Mirpur Royals in Match 15 of the tournament, Hafeez blazed his willow for a fantastic century. The experienced right-hand batter produced an innings of 110 runs off 54 balls. The Pakistan stalwart’s blistering effort propelled the Tigers to a massive score of 227 off their allotted 20 overs.
Hafeez reached his century in only 49 balls, having earlier reached past fifty with a magnificent six down the ground. The 40-year-old hit the Royals’ bowling attack to all parts of the venue in Muzzaffarabad. The knock strengthened his team’s chance of winning the game and retaining the second spot on the six-team points table.
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Mohammad Hafeez produced an exceptional hundred in the Kashmir Premier League T20
Mohammad Hafeez bounces back with a stellar hundred
Multiple clips from Mohammad Hafeez’s innings were shared over Twitter by the official handle of the maiden KPL T20 event.
The Professor reaches 5⃣0⃣ runs in his lectures in style
#KPL21 #KheloAazadiSe #SRGKPL pic.twitter.com/JwyMqPmQAO
— Kashmir Premier League (Official) (@kpl_20) August 13, 2021
Hafeez is on FIRE today
#KPL21 #KheloAazadiSe #SRGKPL pic.twitter.com/qUpHogMbEy
— Kashmir Premier League (Official) (@kpl_20) August 13, 2021
A blistering century from the Professor himself
— Kashmir Premier League (Official) (@kpl_20) August 13, 2021
Notably, the inclusion of prominent overseas international players in the KPL was a cause of huge controversy recently when it emerged that the mighty Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is ideologically against the tournament.
Since the tournament is organised in the Pakistan-administered side of Kashmir, the BCCI is understood to have raised issues with regard to the participation of some of the ex-internationals from abroad and tried to prevent them from playing in the KPL T20. Former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs brought this issue to light via a tweet.
Completely unnecessary of the @BCCI to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to prevent me playing in the @kpl_20 . Also threatening me saying they won’t allow me entry into India for any cricket related work. Ludicrous
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) July 31, 2021
ESPNcricinfo reported, the BCCI had even urged the ICC not to recognise the KPL as a T20 league. To this, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had issued a statement where it accused BCCI of interfering in its internal affairs. The BCCI’s issue with KPL is based on the historic political dispute between India and Pakistan related to Kashmir.