Former wicket-keeper batter Kamran Akmal shared his thoughts on Mohammad Rizwan’s retired-out dismissal during the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 fixture.
Rizwan scored a sluggish 26 from 23 balls with the help of two fours and a six before Melbourne Renegades skipper Will Sutherland called the batter back to the pavilion.
The video set social media abuzz with fans questioning the decision to retire Rizwan.
Speaking on the incident on a local news channel, Akmal emphasized the demands of modern-day cricket while noting that the decision should not have benn taken.
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“Absolutely. I also believe this should not happen; he is our top player and a proven performer. You have to realise how fast these leagues are.
Every country is now following the modern-day approach to cricket, so it is vital to develop yourself accordingly,” he remarked.
He also criticized Rizwan’s approach and mentioned the Australian mindset in a shorter format of the game.
“Rizwan has been playing with the same mindset since he started in T20s. In Australia, they view the game through a specific lens. We have seen similar tactical moves in the ILT20 and the IPL,” he added.
“I have been saying for three or four years that the way he is playing will make the future very difficult. Modern-day cricket is moving at a rapid pace, and you must adapt.
It should not have happened to our best player and the Pakistan captain, but he has, in a sense, given them a reason to make that call,” Akmal concluded.
For the unversed, Mohammad Rizwan is going through a horror run in BBL 15 as having scored 167 runs in eight matches at a modest average of 20.87 and a strike rate of 101.82.
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