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'Selfish' - Pakistan's Hafeez Accuses Virat Kohli After His 49th ODI Century

image-lomo3rrdVirat Kohli at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Mohammad Hafeez has lashed out at Virat Kohli after the latter notched up his 49th ODI century during the course of his recent match-winning effort at the 2023 World Cup. The former Pakistan captain accused Kohli of deliberately taking safe singles in a bid to get to his milestone during the backend of the Indian innings against South Africa.


Hafeez accuses Kohli of batting for milestones

Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez has claimed that he noticed of sense of “selfishness” in Virat Kohli’s batting during his innings against South Africa at the Eden Gardens. The 43-year-old added that Kohli’s innings in Kolkata marked the third occasion in the ongoing 2023 World Cup where the Indian batter put his personal records before his country, citing his knocks against Bangladesh and New Zealand as the other two instances. Hafeez said:

"I saw sense of selfishness in Virat Kohli's batting and this happened for the third time in this World Cup. In the 49th over, he was looking to take a single to reach his own hundred and he didn't put the team first."

Meanwhile, during the mid-innings break, Virat Kohli himself stated that the surface became difficult for batting after the opening powerplay, and his claims can be backed by KL Rahul’s struggling 17-ball eight as well as the entirety of South Africa’s batting display in the run-chase, where they were bundled out for just 83 in 27.1 overs.

Kohli punched out an unbeaten 101 in the match from 121 balls to top-score for his side in their 326-run total. The innings marked his second century of the 2023 World Cup, and his 49th overall to bring him on levelling terms with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

The Indian batting stalwart, along with the rest of his teammates, will now face Netherlands in their final Group match of the competition. Having secured eight wins from each of their first eight fixtures, Team India is currently placed at the top of the World Cup 2023 points table, and fittingly became the first side to qualify for the semi-finals.