Tag: Mohammad Rizwan

Rawalpindiz captain Mohammad Rizwan has revealed that he is consulting a player to address his form issues after a disappointing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 campaign.

The wicket-keeper batter addressed the media in the post-match press conference after Pindiz concluded their last fixture against Hyderabad Kingsmen.

Rizwan admitted that he has struggled for form and stressed that hard work is the only way to bounce back.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

“My form has not been good, but I do not believe in form. I believe more in hard work, and perhaps there has been some shortcoming in my effort,” he told reporters.

“I am the kind of person who, if my hard work and standards are not where they should be, I remain honest with myself and with Pakistan as well,” he added.

The 33-year-old called for more professionalism and awareness within the team, adding that he is working on his flaws through discussions with a fellow player.

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“Professionalism should come into our players, and awareness needs to improve. As far as I am concerned, I will do everything I can to overcome my shortcomings,” Rizwan continued.

“I am in touch with one player and keep speaking with him. When things become better, I will let you know which player it was,” he said.

Earlier on Sunday, Rawalpindiz dismal PSL 11 campaign ended with an 108-run thrashing at the hands of the Hyderabad Kingsmen. The win propelled Kingsmen into the playoffs.

Kingsmen piled up a massive 244 in their 20 overs before bundling them out for 136 in 17.1 overs, marking their ninth loss in 10 matches.

Mohammad Rizwan also endured a poor run, managing only 204 runs from 10 matches at a meager average of 20.40 without a single half-century.

READ: Hyderabad Kingsmen knock Lahore Qalandars out of PSL 11 with big win

KARACHI: Rawalpindiz captain Mohammad Rizwan has vowed to overcome shortcomings after suffering fifth consecutive defeat in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11. 

Quetta Gladiators 61-run victory on Friday night kept Mohammad Rizwan’s side winless in the tournament.

The skipper highlighted the shortcomings in the post-match presentation, stating that his side is working on weaknesses

“We certainly recognize the need for change; it’s clear that adjustments are required to get us back on track. We’ve had our share of struggles, but we are actively working to overcome them,” he said.

“We brought in Ben Sears specifically to strengthen our death-bowling options and included Usman Khawaja to bolster the lineup. There have been ups and downs, and we are constantly trying to fix those gaps,” the skipper explained.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

He credited Hassan Nawaz and Jahandad Khan for their impressive batting that helped Quetta Gladiators reach a winning total.

“On this pitch, we felt we were restricting them well to around 140 or 150, but Hasan Nawaz and Jahandad deserve a lot of credit—they took the score from 150 to 180, which was a bit excessive for these conditions.”

The right-hander has struggled in the ongoing tournament with 83 runs in five matches at an average of 16.60.

“Regarding my personal form, I know how important it is to maintain self-belief. I realize that if I don’t lead from the front, the team will struggle, the 33-year-old maintained.

“I am working hard on my shortcomings and putting in the effort; I believe in showing courage and working hard, leaving the ultimate results in the hands of the Almighty. It is a tough period right now, but I am committed to fighting through it,” he continued.

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He expressed confidence despite losing five games on the trot, noting that they will bounce back in the upcoming games.

“The message in the dressing room is that in this sport, players are exposed to failure 60% of the time. We have to meet that reality with energy and bravery.”

“I truly believe that if we play the next five games to the best of our potential, the results will follow. It’s all about taking our courage to that next level and staying united as a group,” he concluded.

READ: Jahandad Khan reflects on all-round display against Rawalpindiz

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has defended the selection of young wicket-keeper Ghazi Ghori in the national squad for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh.

Rizwan shared his views during a media talk on the sidelines of Pakistan’s training camp in Karachi.

Notably, Ghazi Ghori is among six uncapped players included in Pakistan’s ODI squad for the Bangladesh tour. The other uncapped ODI players are Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain.

However, Ghori’s inclusion sparked debate among fans and former cricketers on social media due to his limited domestic experience.

Ghori, who featured in two matches for Islamabad United last year, has played just 17 List A matches, averaging slightly above 20 with a strike rate below 80 in the format.

Despite the scrutiny, Rizwan insisted that the youngster deserved the opportunity.

“Ghazi has come into the team on the basis of performance. Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Rizwan said.

The senior wicket-keeper also emphasised that Pakistan should welcome the emergence of multiple wicketkeeping options, saying it could ultimately benefit the national team.

“Right now, Ghazi is in the squad, but if you look at the past, many wicketkeepers have been performing. It’s good if more keepers come through the system because Pakistan might finally find what it has been searching for,” he added.

The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled to be played from March 11 to 15, with all fixtures set to take place at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.

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Mohammad Rizwan also warned against underestimating Bangladesh in their home conditions.

“On paper, the series may look easy, but Bangladesh are a tough side in their own conditions. The pitches there suit them,” he said, adding that Pakistan still have players in the squad who possess experience of playing in those conditions.

When asked about the exclusion of several senior players from the squad, Rizwan said the selection committee was better placed to explain those decisions.

“If I had been part of the selection meeting, I could have told you why certain players were left out,” he remarked.

Rizwan further highlighted the importance of the captain’s role in team-building, stating that leadership input should carry weight in decision-making.

“If the selection committee or head coach does not listen to the captain, then that person should not be captain,” he said. “The captain has to lead the team on the field, so his opinion must matter.”

The wicketkeeper-batter also spoke about the pressure in modern cricket, stressing the need for greater professionalism within Pakistan cricket.

“Pressure exists at every level of cricket, whether club, domestic or international. We need awareness and professionalism because other teams are ahead of us and they handle pressure better,” he said.

Rizwan was also asked about reports claiming that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had imposed a fine of Rs5 million on each player following the team’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

However, he declined to comment on the matter, saying the board had not yet made any official announcement.

“Many people and sections of the media have spoken about it, but until the PCB makes an official statement, I cannot say anything about the alleged fine,” Rizwan concluded.

READ: West Indies, England, South Africa set to depart India on charter flights

KANDY: Opening batter Fakhar Zaman on Saturday broke Mohammad Rizwan’s record for the most sixes by a Pakistan batter during the Super Eight clash against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Fakhar surpassed Mohammad Rizwan’s previous record of 95 sixes with a towering hit off spinner Maheesh Theekshana in the third over of Pakistan’s innings.

The clean strike not only shifted early momentum but also etched Fakhar’s name at the top of Pakistan’s six-hitting charts in T20 internationals.

Promoted to open the batting, Fakhar laid a monumental 176-run foundation with Sahibzada Farhan.

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Both batters kept Sri Lankan bowlers at bay, powering Pakistan in a dominant position.

Fakhar Zaman was eventually dismissed after scoring 84 from 42 balls with the aid of four sixes and nine fours.

At the time of filing this story, Pakistan were 179-2 in 16.4 overs.

Most sixes for Pakistan in T20Is

Fakhar Zaman — Matches: 120 | Sixes: 99

Mohammad Rizwan — Matches: 106 | Sixes: 95

Babar Azam — Matches: 145 | Sixes: 80

Mohammad Hafeez — Matches: 119 | Sixes: 76

Shahid Afridi — Matches: 98 | Sixes: 73

READ: Farhan breaks Kohli’s long-standing T20 World Cup record

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the base prices of players registered for the highly anticipated Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 player auction.

The landmark auction is scheduled to take place on February 11, with a total of 879 local and overseas cricketers from across the cricketing world signing up.

The pool includes players from Afghanistan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England and Sri Lanka, with base prices ranging from PKR 60 lakh to PKR 4.2 crore.

Several high-profile international stars have entered the top base price bracket of PKR 4.2 crore.

The list features Afghanistan’s Fazal Haq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Australia’s David Warner, and New Zealand all-rounders Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell.

South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw, England’s James Vince and Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka have also placed themselves in the highest category.

Among Pakistan players, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman and Faheem Ashraf headline the top-tier bracket, underlining the strong local presence in the auction.

The second-highest base price category begins at PKR 2.2 crore and includes notable names such as Australia’s Usman Khawaja and Peter Siddle, New Zealand’s Colin Munro, England’s Jason Roy and South Africa veteran Imran Tahir.

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Pakistan representatives in this category include Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood.

You can find the complete list of players along with their base prices by clicking here.

Under the new auction model, each franchise has been allocated a purse of PKR 450 million to build their squads, along with an additional PKR 55 million reserved for direct signings.

All franchises, including the newly-added Hyderabad and Sialkot Stallionz, have already confirmed their retentions and direct signings ahead of the auction.

However, Peshawar Zalmi were dealt a setback after their direct signing Rahmanullah Gurbaz withdrew from the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, Multan Sultans remain in a unique position heading into the auction. The franchise, currently without an owner, will enter the bidding process with a full purse after retaining no players and making no direct signings.

Notably, the Multan franchise is scheduled to be sold through a separate auction in Lahore on February 9, just two days before the PSL 11 player auction.

READ: ICC delegation to meet Mohsin Naqvi to break India-Pakistan deadlock: sources

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Director of High Performance and national selector Aqib Javed has dismissed comparisons between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan over a spot in the national team’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to played in India and Sri Lanka. 

While addressing the media, Aqib answered a question regarding the selection of Babar Azam over Mohammad Rizwan in Pakistan’s World Cup squad.

“You have to look at how the batting composition of your team shapes up. Babar is seen by both the coach and the captain as someone who can play a vital role in the team. This doesn’t mean that if one player is given a chance, another is denied one,” he remarked.

“We don’t think in terms of comparing one player to another or why one was chosen and the other wasn’t. There’s no logic in that. What you need to see is who fits better in the squad and which player makes the team stronger,” he explained.

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Meanwhile, white ball head coach Mike Hesson praised ‘exeptional’ Usman Khan for his wicket-keeping and emphasized his role in the team amid debate surrounding Mohammad Rizwan’s inclusion.

“When it comes to Usman Khan’s performance, we consider the availability we have and the type of cricket we want to play,” Hesson said.

“You build a composition of 7–8 batsmen, and you need to see what type of players come together to form a batting unit that can perform in any total or under any conditions,” he added.

He highlighted Usman’s performances while revealing the particular role that is required from him during the tournament.

“Usman Khan has been exceptional since he came back. He remained not out in three chases where we were losing wickets, and he has shown experience. His wicketkeeping is going probably better than expected. In Sri Lanka, it was high quality,” Hesson said.

“The role we have for our keeper is someone through the middle, batting at five or six. You are not comparing the same, as Rizwan is a top-order batter. There’s no spot in that role for a wicketkeeper,” Hesson concluded.

Earlier in the morning, Pakistan revealed the squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with skipper Salman Ali Agha set to lead the 15-member side.

Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad

Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (WK), and Usman Tariq.

READ: Hesson reveals reason behind Haris Rauf’s T20 World Cup exclusion

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.

READ: Bangladesh cricketers issue boycott warning over official’s remarks

SYDNEY: Wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan became Pakistan’s first player to be retired out in T20 cricket during the 33rd fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder.

Rizwan scored a sluggish 26 from 23 balls with the help of two fours and a six before Renegades skipper Will Sutherland called the batter back to the pavilion.

At this stage, Renegades were 154-5 at the end of the 18th over.

The video set social media abuzz with fans questioning the decision to retire Rizwan.

Notably, Rizwan also became the first overseas batter in the ongoing tournament to be retired out.

Overall, Mohammad Rizwan is going through a horror run in the BBL 15, scoring 167 runs in eight matches at a modest average of 20.87, with a strike rate of 101.82.

 

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Nonetheless, Melbourne Renegades eventually managed to put on a show with the bat as they racked up 170/8 at the end of their allotted 20 overs.

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Hassan Khan remained the star batter as he hit four sixes and a boundary on his way to 46 from 31 balls.

For Sydney Thunder, Wes Agar, Ryan Hadley, and David Willey picked up two wickets each.

In reply, Sydney Thunder scored 140-5 in 15.2 overs before rain arrived, which handed them a four-wicket victory as per the DLS method.

Nic Maddinson and Chris Green starred with the bat, particularly the latter, scoring an unbeaten 34 from 13 balls with the aid of three sixes and three fours.

For Melbourne Renegades, it was Gurinder Sandhu again with the ball as he picked up his third fourth-wicket haul of the tournament.

READ: Parvez Hossain Emon guides Sylhet Titans to victory over Rangpur Riders

MELBOURNE: Josh Brown, Mohammad Rizwan, and skipper Will Sutherland helped Melbourne Renegades seal a nervy last-ball victory over Melbourne Stars in the 22nd fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Renegades chased down a stiff 174 at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday in front of a record crowd with one ball to spare, losing six wickets in the process.

After Tim Seifert departed for six in the second over, Mohammad Rizwan and Josh Brown made light work of the chase with a 103-run partnership.

The duo composed batting, particularly Brown, made the target look easy before a collapse left them reeling. The pair brought the total to 127 in 14.1 overs.

Brown was bowled by Mitchell Swepson for 84 off 48 with the help of nine fours and four maximums.

However, after Brown’s departure, the Renegades lost their way in the middle, losing 5 for 34 in less than 5 overs.

Rizwan followed him after the 16th over, making 41 off 38 with the help of four boundaries, while Peter Siddle and Haris Rauf combined to rock back with quick wickets, which slumped them to 148-5 in 17.5 overs.

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However, Sutherland held his nerve and launched Marcus Stoinis for two sixes in the final over to win it for his side.

For Melbourne Stars, Peter Siddle and Haris Rauf once again stood tall with the ball, picking up two wickets each.

With this, the Melbourne Renegades ended their three-match losing streak and secured their second win of the season. On the contrary, Stars have now lost two in a row after winning the first four games.

Earlier, put into bat Melbourne Stars managed to put 173-9 on the board at the end of their 20 overs.

Callum Stow and Gurinder Sandhu provided Melbourne Renegades with the start they wanted, keeping the Stars batters on their toes.

At one stage, Stars were reduced to 55-4 in 7.4 overs before a string of partnerships in the lower middle order lifted them out of trouble.

After a shambolic display from the top-order, Tom Curran (38 off 18) and Campbell Kellaway (33 off 27) provided them with respites, which helped them reach a competitive total at the end of their innings.

For the Renegades, Gurinder Sandhu remained the star bowler, who picked up a four-wicket haul.

READ: Bangladesh reveal squad for T20 World Cup 2026

MELBOURNE: Pakistan star Babar Azam produced a composed unbeaten half-century to lead Sydney Sixers to a six-wicket victory over Melbourne Renegades in a Big Bash League (BBL) season 15 encounter at Docklands Stadium on Thursday.

In a much-anticipated Babar Azam versus Mohammad Rizwan contest, the Sixers opted to field first after winning the toss.

Renegades lost early momentum when Jack Edwards dismissed Tim Seifert for eight, leaving the hosts 10 for 1 inside the first two overs.

Rizwan then partnered with Josh Brown in a brief counter-attack, though the second-wicket stand was largely driven by Brown’s aggressive approach.

The right-hander smashed 43 off just 19 balls, including three fours and four sixes, before Hayden Kerr broke the 44-run partnership. Rizwan struggled for fluency and was dismissed soon after, scoring six from ten deliveries.

Jake Fraser-McGurk steadied the innings with a 29-ball 38, featuring four boundaries, before falling to Sean Abbott after pushing the Renegades past the 100-run mark.

Hassan Khan provided late resistance with a quick 39, hitting three sixes and a four, but his dismissal in the final over curtailed the Renegades’ momentum as they finished on 164 for 9.

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Abbott was the pick of the Sixers’ bowlers with three wickets, while Edwards, Ben Dwarshuis and Kerr claimed two apiece.

In reply, the Sixers made a solid start through Daniel Hughes and Babar, adding 46 for the opening wicket.

Gurinder Sandhu removed Hughes for 30 off 23 balls, but Babar anchored the chase calmly. Josh Philippe chipped in with 16, while captain Moises Henriques added a brisk 23 to keep the innings on track.

After the fall of the fourth wicket, Babar Azam found a reliable partner in Joel Davies. The duo stitched together an unbeaten 51-run stand to take the Sixers home in 19.1 overs.

Babar finished on 58 not out from 46 balls, striking four fours and a six, while Davies sealed the chase with an unbeaten 34 off 15, including three fours and two sixes.

For Renegades, Sandhu picked up two wickets, while Will Sutherland and Matthew Spoors claimed one each.

The win marked Sydney Sixers’ second victory of the season, lifting them to fifth on the BBL points table. Melbourne Renegades, meanwhile, remain seventh with just one win, sitting above only Sydney Thunder.

READ: BPL drops Chattogram as venue for remainder of 2025-26 season