Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has addressed criticism over his recent remarks on the legacy of cricketers from the 1990s, asserting that his comments were misrepresented by certain media outlets.

Hafeez, who faced backlash for stating that his predecessors did not leave a lasting legacy in Pakistan cricket, clarified that his remarks were not a personal attack on any former player.

His initial statement followed Pakistan’s early exit from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy after defeats to New Zealand and India, along with a washed-out match against Bangladesh.

“I am a big admirer of the cricketers from the 1990s, but when we talk about their legacy, it’s clear they didn’t bring home an ICC trophy,” Hafeez said. “They played in the 1996, 1999, and 2003 World Cups, and despite strong performances, we lost each time. We only reached the 1999 final, and that loss was quite heavy.”

Hafeez highlighted that while those players were regarded as megastars, they could not inspire future generations by winning an ICC event. He pointed to Pakistan’s 2007 T20 World Cup final loss before the 2009 victory under Younis Khan’s leadership as a turning point.

Amid growing criticism, Hafeez took to social media on Monday to clarify his remarks, stating that his comments were solely about Pakistan’s inability to win ICC tournaments during that era.

“Some media houses are fabricating the actual content. The context of the discussion was all about teams winning ICC events to inspire future generations,” Hafeez tweeted.

He added that his comments were not meant as personal criticism but rather an observation on Pakistan’s tournament performances post-1992.

In response to his tweet, many fans criticised his initial stance, with some questioning what Hafeez had done in his career to be able to question 90s players.

Other fans saw it as an opportunity to poke fun at the entire situation.