Watch| Mohammad Hafeez Shares Pictures from Meeting with Fugitive Preacher Zakir Naik, Calls It a 'Pleasure'

Former Pakistan cricketer and head coach Mohammad Hafeez has landed himself in trouble after meeting Zakir Naik, an Islamic fugitive preacher who is wanted by Indian authorities on money laundering charges and for promoting extremism through hate speeches.

Hafeez posted photographs of their meeting on social media, but the reaction from the internet was one of sheer disgust.

One of the social media users rebuked Hafeez, remarking, "No wonder why your cricket is going down the drain."

Another user attributed Hafeez's move to the constant cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan, remarking, "This is one of the reasons why the Indian cricket team and the Indian government do not want to come to Pakistan… He is a fugitive from the Indian police."

A third user reacted by quoting Hafeez’s post, stating, “I’m beginning to dislike Hafeez more and more.”

Hafeez captioned his post, “Pleasure meeting with Zakir Naik," sharing images of himself standing beside Naik in a brown kurta-pajama and another where they were seated together at a restaurant. However, the post was met with sharp criticism from fans, particularly those who were unhappy about him associating with a controversial figure.

Several also called out Hafeez's previous comments regarding Pakistan's 1990s cricket team, criticizing them for not being able to win several ICC tournaments despite possessing so much talent.

"90s legends zindabad. How many World Cups have you won for Pakistan, sir?" one user snapped back.

Another sarcastically asked if Hafeez's meeting with Naik had an effect on his recent TV comments: "Did he speak so much truth on TV after meeting Zakir Naik?"

A few cricket enthusiasts employed this scandal to support India's hesitation to tour Pakistan for matches. One of them posted, "This is the very reason why India doesn't go to Pakistan…" and another mentioned South African cricketer David Miller, who had criticized the 2025 Champions Trophy schedule.

"Hi David Miller, you wished for the Indian team to be playing in a nation where past players are convening and venerating wanted criminals? FYI: The individual here is Zakir Naik, against whom terror funding charges, hate speech, instigating communal enmity, and money laundering are being probed in India."

In perspective, David Miller had also voiced discontent about the Champions Trophy 2025 timetable, where teams have to shift between Pakistan and Dubai because of India's non-participation in Pakistan.

Hafeez's Criticism of 1990s Cricket Greats of Pakistan
Hafeez recently stoked controversy over his comments about Pakistan's 1990s cricket greats. Talking on OutSide Edge Live, during which Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, and Sana Mir accompanied him, Hafeez said:

I am a great admirer of the players who played in the 1990s, but as far as legacy is concerned, they left nothing for Pakistan. They did not win an ICC tournament – they lost the World Cups of 1996, 1999, and 2003. We made one final (in 1999) and got thrashed."

Hafeez went on to contend that Pakistan's real cricketing inspiration arrived later:

In 2007, we did not win the T20 World Cup final, but in 2009 we did, with Younis Khan as our captain, who inspired the next generation. Then there was the 2017 Champions Trophy win, which was a massive inspiration. Babar Azam is idolized today, and although he played no major role in that tournament, he was present."

But his comments didn't go down well with a few, like Shoaib Malik, who replied, "These 73 one-dayers that Pakistan won against India, it is us who won them."