Hafeez faces uphill task to save his place in team

Sources in the team told PTI that while Hafeez, who was only recently named the national team's T20 skipper in place of Misbah-ul-Haq, enjoyed the full backing of coach Dav Whatmore but a whispering campaign had started against him in the team because of his poor form.

"When Misbah was banned for slow over-rate after the first Test there was some debate on whether Hafeez was in form to lead the side but since Younis Khan was also struggling with the bat eventually he got the job but failed to impress," a source said.

After a successful performance in 2011, Hafeez has averaged only 9.20 and scored 47 runs in five T20 games this year, while his bowling has also fetched him just three wickets at an average of 32.

Sources claimed that the decision to make Hafeez the T20 captain is now being questioned by many as he has a batting average of just 19 from as many as 31 Twenty20 matches.

Hafeez has also struggled in ODIs scoring at an average of 26 in 14 matches, including a hundred against India in the Asia Cup. In his last six ODIs he has scored just 91 runs.

Even in the bowling department in ODIs, he has taken just eight wickets at average of 46.77 this year.

While in four Tests this year, he has scored just one fifty in eight innings and taken eight wickets.

Former Pakistan Test captain, Aamir Sohail said he had also never supported the decision to change the captain but felt that Hafeez could overcome his poor form by a simple adjustment in his batting technique.

"He is not playing on the backfoot as much as he should and that is why he is getting out cheaply so frequently. Once he makes this minor adjustment to his footwork he can score again," Sohail said. "I am surprised that no one in the coaching staff has yet been able to clear this minor problem in Hafeez's footwork. (MORE)