Hafeez questions the legacy of Pakistan’s 1990s cricket icons, prompting a fiery response from Waqar Younis.
March 8, 2025: Waqar Younis Fires Back at Mohammad Hafeez Over ’90s Pakistan Stars Criticism
Pakistan legend defends his generation after Hafeez claims they “left no legacy” due to ICC failures.
A war of words erupted in Pakistan’s cricketing circles after former cricketer Mohammad Hafeez questioned the legacy of the 1990s and early 2000s stars, prompting a fiery response from Waqar Younis.
Hafeez, during a discussion on PTV Sports, claimed that Pakistan’s legendary players of the 1990s failed to inspire future generations due to their lack of ICC tournament victories.
“I am a huge fan of those who played in the 1990s, but when it comes to legacy, they left nothing for Pakistan,” Hafeez stated.
He highlighted Pakistan’s losses in the 1996, 1999, and 2003 World Cups, pointing out that despite their mega-stardom, they couldn’t deliver an ICC trophy.
“Then came a difficult period, and we had to go through struggles. In 2009, we finally won under Younis Khan’s captaincy, which was an inspiration for the next generation. Then in 2017, we won the Champions Trophy, another big moment. That’s why Babar Azam is idolized today—because he was part of a winning ICC squad,” Hafeez added.
Waqar Younis’ Fiery Response
The remarks didn’t sit well with Pakistan fast-bowling legend Waqar Younis, who took to social media to defend his generation.
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Sharing an image listing the record-breaking statistics of himself and Wasim Akram, Waqar captioned it “90’s KA LONDA” (Boys of the 90s)—a direct response to Hafeez’s criticism.
“90’s KA LONDA”
— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) March 6, 2025
Test – 191
ODI’s – 618
Wkts – 1705
Runs – 8594
5wkts – 66
10wkts – 10#NotBad @wasimakramlive #GoodOldDays♥️ pic.twitter.com/09VaeKbycJ
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 Disaster
This heated exchange comes after Pakistan’s disastrous campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025, where:
- They lost to India and New Zealand in the group stage.
- Their final match against Bangladesh ended in a no-result, leaving them with just one point in the tournament.
- Pakistan finished at the bottom of Group A with a net run rate of -1.087.
- This made them the worst-performing defending champions in Champions Trophy history, breaking Australia’s previous record (2013 Champions Trophy, one point, -0.680 NRR).
What’s Next?
As Pakistan’s cricket community debates Hafeez’s remarks, Waqar’s response has sparked discussions about whether winning ICC tournaments is the only measure of a cricketer’s legacy.
With Pakistan cricket struggling and fans divided over past and present teams, the debate over legacy and leadership is likely far from over.
Tags:
#WaqarYounis, #MohammadHafeez, #PakistanCricket, #CricketLegends, #WasimAkram, #90sCricket, #PakistanTeam, #ChampionsTrophy, #BabarAzam, #T20WorldCup