Pakistan cricket authorities said on Thursday they would not renew the contract of national team director Mohamed Hafeez, showing him the door after disastrous tours of Australia and New Zealand.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed 43-year-old Hafeez in late 2023 after the side crashed out of the World Cup in India.
But in his brief tenure Pakistan were whitewashed 3-0 in a Test series in Australia and lost 4-1 in the Twenty20 series in New Zealand.
“Hafeez’s contract expired after the New Zealand series last month so PCB is not extending it,” PCB media director Aaliya Rasheed said on Thursday.
A losing streak has prompted a major shakeup for Pakistan in recent months, with skipper Babar Azam stepping down from all three formats in November and foreign coach Mickey Arthur also getting sacked.
The PCB has also seen major changes at the helm, with a revolving door of chairmen. The PCB on Thursday also terminated the central contract of fast bowler Haris Rauf after he refused to join the Test team for the tour of Australia, which coincided with his stint at Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL).
Right-arm pacer Rauf, who played for Melbourne Stars in the franchise league, did not join the Pakistan team for a three-match Test series against Australia between December 14 and January 7.
“Haris’ central contract has been terminated from December 1, 2023 and no NOC (No objection certificate) to play any foreign league will be granted up to June 30, 2024,” the PCB said in a statement.
“The PCB management provided a chance for a personal hearing to Haris in compliance with the principles of natural justice on 30 January 2024 and his response was found unsatisfactory.”
The 30-year-old’s refusal had caused a standoff with PCB which ended when the board granted him permission to make a limited appearance in the BBL before joining the national squad for a five-match T20 series against New Zealand in January.
Rauf, 30, has so far played one Test, 37 ODIs and 66 Twenty20 internationals for Pakistan.