New Delhi: The ongoing drama and controversies surrounding Pakistan cricket continue to unfold. Reports from Pakistani media indicate that ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan has chosen to play club cricket instead of taking part in the National T20 Cup, which is overseen by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). This decision has faced significant criticism from various quarters. Former Pakistan fast bowler Sikander Bakht has also weighed in, urging PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to take a firm stance and revoke Rizwan’s central contract.
Rizwan is facing criticism following Pakistan’s disappointing showing in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, where the team was eliminated in the group stage. Subsequently, Rizwan was removed from Pakistan’s T20I team and is not part of the current squad for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
Rizwan is facing criticism following Pakistan’s disappointing showing in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, where the team was eliminated in the group stage. Subsequently, Rizwan was removed from Pakistan’s T20I team and is not part of the current squad for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
He also encouraged Mohsin Naqvi to adopt a firmer approach and enforce stricter penalties on those who violate the rules.
“They are employees of the Pakistan Cricket Board. They get 60 lakh per month, so they must play in the tournaments the PCB is organising. The buck stops with PCB. They have to make sure that players are available. If you are playing club cricket and not playing the tournament the board has organised, it means you are insulting the PCB,” Bakht told Geo Super.
“This shouldn’t happen. Mohsin Naqvi needs to be strict. He comes off as a polite person, but he needs to change his ways. You have to ask what is happening. Be strict. Stop their central contracts,” he added.
Rizwan’s captaincy in the Champions Trophy was lacking, and his batting contributions were also disappointing. He managed to score 3 runs against New Zealand and 46 against India, totaling 49 runs across the two matches he participated in during the tournament.
Various analysts examined Rizwan’s 46-run performance against India, expressing concerns about his inability to sustain an adequate pace during the middle overs.
Rizwan previously assumed the role of ODI captain from Babar Azam. During his leadership, Pakistan secured an ODI series victory against Australia in November 2024.
The performance has declined since then. Previously, Pakistan bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz criticized Rizwan’s body language during the Champions Trophy match against India.
“There’s no doubt about that (India are ahead of Pakistan). When I watched the toss, I saw the reaction of the Pakistan captain (Mohammad Rizwan). He looked lost somewhere. I don’t know if it was due to pressure, but he didn’t look the same as he generally does,” Nawaz told Cricbuzz.
“Unlike in other matches, he wasn’t blabbering at all; he was just quiet. I don’t know what went wrong there. Pakistan’s selection was very poor,” he added.
