[6][7] On 3 January 2022, he announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket, ending a career that spanned more than 18 years.

[11] In August 2018, he was one of the thirty-three players to be awarded a central contract for the 2018–19 season by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

[17] Having to disrupt his studies because of his professional cricket career, in 2023 he resumed them at the age of 42 by enrolling in the University of Karachi's BS Health Physical Education and Sports Sciences (HPESS) program.

[18] Hafeez has played in Bhera and was one of several young all-rounders whom the Pakistani cricket team turned to in order to revitalize their side after their poor display in 2003 World Cup where Pakistan was out from first round.

His form with both bat and ball was inconsistent and in late 2003 he was dropped from the Test squad and subsequently from the ODI side.

With Pakistan struggling to find a solid opening pair for the Test side, he was recalled for the tour of England.

Subsequently, Hafeez retained his place in the Test squad for Pakistan's home series against the West Indies in November of that year.

He was the second highest Pakistani run scorer in the ODI series producing some solid opening partnerships with Kamran Akmal.

Following this good form he was included in the squad that was selected to play South Africa in the UAE and he replaced disgraced skipper Salman Butt as an opening batsman in both Tests, achieving a batting average 32.50.

At the end of 2010 he was also selected for the party that would tour New Zealand and the West Indies and this resulted in him establishing himself as a regular in the Test, ODI and T20 teams.

During the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September 2012, Pakistan reached the semi-finals where they lost to the home side.

Hafeez also came into some conflict with the PCB over their view that he adopted a rather unilateral and non-consultative approach while making selection decisions.

The PCB committee decided that they would subsequently closely monitor Hafeez's performance in this context during the coming tours to India and South Africa.

After Pakistan's exit from the T20 World Championship Hafeez apologized on behalf of his team and stepped down as captain.

He didn't do wonders with the ball either with an expensive economy rate of almost 6 per over which was worse than any other Pakistani spinner in the tournament.

[35] Mohammad Hafeez was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders, and played in the inaugural season of the IPL.

[36][37] Hafeez was placed in the Diamond category in the inaugural edition of PSL and was acquired for US$70,000 by the Peshawar Zalmi side.

[43][44] In December 2018, Hafeez joined Rajshahi Kings for the sixth edition of Bangladesh Premier League.

[47] On 3 June 2018, he was selected to play for the Montreal Tigers in the players' draft for the inaugural edition of the Global T20 Canada tournament.

He joined Middlesex County Cricket Club for the 2019 Vitality Blast, as a replacement for Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

[55] In November 2021, he was selected to play for the Galle Gladiators following the players' draft for the 2021 Lanka Premier League.