Tag: Mohammad Rizwan

Pakistan ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi on Monday, showered massive praise on wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan, terming him the “Bradman of T20 cricket”.

Rizwan went past national men’s team white-ball captain Babar Azam and India’s batting maestro Virat Kohli to become the fastest to complete 3,000 runs in T20Is during Pakistan’s seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20I on Saturday.

Kohli and Azam were the joint-fastest to score 3000 runs in T20I cricket, taking 81 innings each, followed by Australia’s Aaron Finch who took 98 innings.

The wicket-keeper batter amassed this record in 79 innings, with his match-winning 45-run knock against the Blackcaps in Saturday’s match.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

As a result, Shaheen Afridi took to his X, formerly Twitter, and congratulated Mohammad Rizwan on achieving the milestone.

“Cheers to Muhammad Rizwan – the Bradman of T20 cricket and Pakistan’s SuperMan for hitting 3,000 T20I runs!” wrote Shaheen.

“Your impact has transformed the game and silenced the sceptics. Keep soaring, champion! You’re an inspiration to many,” he added.

Cheers to Muhammad Rizwan – the Bradman of T20 cricket and Pakistan's SuperMan for hitting 3,000 T20I runs! 🏏🌟 Your impact has transformed the game and silenced the skeptics. Keep soaring, champion! You're an inspiration to many. @imrizwanpak 🌟💪 pic.twitter.com/JKnoxfEeUF

— Shaheen Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) April 22, 2024

 

It is worth mentioning here that the ongoing five-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand is squared off at 1-1.

The two teams will now travel to Lahore where the last T20Is will be played on April 25 and 27 respectively.

Pakistan squad

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

READ: Babar Azam opens up on Pakistan’s upset defeat against New Zealand

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan on Saturday, added another feather to his cap by breaking a long-standing T20I record, jointly held by Babar Azam and India’s star batter Virat Kohli.

During the second T20I against New Zealand here, Mohammad Rizwan became the fastest batter to score 3000 runs in T20Is, surpassing his national team captain Babar and India’s Kohli.

Kohli and Azam are the joint-fastest to score 3000 runs in T20I cricket, taking 81 innings each, followed by Australia’s Aaron Finch who took 98 innings.

The wicket-keeper batter amassed this record in 79 innings, with his match-winning 45-run knock against the Blackcaps in Saturday’s match.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam is closing in on Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs in T20I cricket. Azam has scored 3,698 runs in T20I cricket and is third among the highest run-scorers in the format.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Kohli tops the list with 4,037, followed by his teammate Rohit Sharma, who has amassed 3,974 runs.

Azam needs 340 runs in five games to become the highest-scorer as well as the second batter to surpass the 4000-run mark in T20I cricket.

It is pertinent to mention here that a combined bowling effort by Pakistan bowlers, followed by Mohammad Rizwan’s composed innings crushed New Zealand by seven wickets in the second T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium.

Chasing a meagre 91-run target, Pakistan successfully chased the total in 12.1 overs when Rizwan hit Cole McConchie for a boundary over square leg.

Pakistan squad

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

New Zealand squad

Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (WK), Ish Sodhi, Tom Blundell, Zak Foulkes.

READ: Bowlers wreak havoc as Pakistan crush New Zealand in 2nd T20I

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan is close to breaking a significant T20I record, currently held by teammate Babar Azam and Indian star batter Virat Kohli, during the upcoming New Zealand series.

Kohli and Azam are the joint-fastest to score 3000 runs in T20I cricket, taking 81 innings each, followed by Australia’s Aaoron Finch who took 98 innings.

However, Rizwan needs only 19 runs in his next two innings to become the fastest to reach the milestone. He has scored 2,981 runs in 78 innings so far.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam is closing in on Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs in T20I cricket.

Azam has scored 3,698 runs in T20I cricket and is third among the highest run-scorers in the format.

Kohli tops the list with 4,037, followed by his teammate Rohit Sharma, who has amassed 3,974 runs.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Azam needs 340 runs in five games to become the highest-scorer as well as the second batter to surpass the 4000-run mark in T20I cricket.

For the unversed, Pakistan will host New Zealand for a five-match T20I series, scheduled to run from April 18.

Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium will host the opening three T20Is between Pakistan and New Zealand on 18, 20 and 21 April before action shifts to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium where the last two matches will be played on 25 and 27 April.

Pakistan squad

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

New Zealand squad

Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (WK), Ish Sodhi, Tom Blundell, Zak Foulkes.

Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series schedule

April 18 — 1st T20I, Rawalpindi

April 20 — 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi

April 21 — 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi

April 25 — 4th T20I, Lahore

April 27 — 5th T20I, Lahore

READ: National Women’s One-Day Tournament set to start tomorrow

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed commented on his competition with Mohammad Rizwan and termed the latter the better wicketkeeper batter currently.

Sarfaraz appeared on a local news channel’s sports show and talked about various aspects of cricket and his career before being asked to name the better wicketkeeper batter between himself and Rizwan.

In reply, the former captain unhesitantly named Rizwan.

“Mohammad Rizwan has become more mature with time. The way he has been playing, everything about him has improved,” said Sarfaraz.

“So, I think, currentty he is the better wicketkeeper batter,” he added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Sarfaraz Ahmed then claimed that providing a player with consistent chances gives him confidence which ultimately leads to better performances, while denying the claim that he strived less than Rizwan.

“When I was playing, the performance was almost alike. [It’s just that] when you play consistently, your confidence grows,” stated Sarfaraz.

“And, as I said earlier in international cricket, the more you play, the more you’ll get better.

“So that’s the reason, like when I played, I gave some good performances. And now the way Rizwan is playing and getting consistent chances, he is growing in confidence and getting better and better.”

He then went on to offer a piece of advice to emerging wicketkeeper batters like Azam Khan, Mohammad Haris, Haseebullah Khan, Rohail Nazir and Saad Baig, who could go on to represent Pakistan as the first-choice wicketkeeper in the future.

“Look, the wicketkeepers we have like Azam, Haris and Haseebullah, apart from them Rohail Nazir was in the pipeline. There are more kids like Saad Baig from Under-19.

“So, we have the potential and the more they play cricket, especially four-day domestic, the more they’ll get experience and will perform well for Pakistan,” he concluded.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed comments on the ongoing captaincy saga

Former captain Shahid Afridi has reacted to PCB’s decision to reappoint Babar Azam as the white-ball captain of Pakistan.

The former allrounder called for appointing batter Muhammad Rizwan as the captain of the national side following the sacking of Shaheen Afridi.

“I am surprised by the decision by very experienced cricketers in the selection committee. I still believe that if change was necessary than Rizwan was the best choice!,” said Afridi in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

However, he said, that he extended full support to Babar Azam after his reappointment as the white-ball captain.

“Since now the decision has been made I offer my full support and best wishes to team Pakistan and Babar Azam,” Shahid Afridi added.

I am surprised by the decision by very experienced cricketers in the selection committee. I still believe that if change was necessary than Rizwan was the best choice! But since now the decision has been made I offer my full support and best wishes to team Pakistan and Babar…

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) March 31, 2024

PCB on Sunday reinstated Babar Azam as the white-ball captain of the national team ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be played in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA).

PCB officially announced Babar Azam’s appointment as captain on their social media accounts. “Babar Azam appointed as white-ball captain,” the PCB posted.

“Following unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has appointed Babar Azam as white-ball (ODI and T20I) captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team.”

His first assignment during his second tenure will be a five-match home T20I series against New Zealand, commencing on April 18 in Rawalpindi.

The star batter had previously led Pakistan in white-ball cricket from 2019 to 2023 before stepping down following the team’s dismal performance in the ICC World Cup 2023.

READ: PSG edge past Marseille to take step closer to Ligue 1 title

Pakistan’s wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has denied reports that he refused to move to the one-down position during the T20I series against New Zealand in January.

During an interview with a local news outlet, Rizwan expressed his willingness to adapt to any role for the national team. He is ready to bat at any number, and even ready to relinquish his duties as a wicketkeeper.

“I never refused to play one down. When I was asked, I said I am absolutely available,” said Rizwan.

“I even said that if I am needed for bowling, I am ready for that too, I can even leave my wicket-keeping,” he further added.

The top-order batter also pointed out that he has batted at almost all the batting positions, which reflects his flexibility to bat at any number.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“If you look at my career so far, in 26 matches, I have gone to bat at numbers 7, 8, and 9. No batsman has gone in at number 9, I have,” he said.

“I cannot say that I will not do this. I was ready before, and I am still ready now.”

For the unversed, young opening batter Saim Ayub was included in the Pakistan team for the New Zealand series, requiring either Mohammad Rizwan or Babar Azam to move down the batting order to accommodate Ayub.

The series saw Rizwan opening with Ayub, while Azam played at number three.

Azam scored three consecutive half-centuries at number three, however, Pakistan lost the series 4-1.

READ: Max Verstappen to see out Red Bull contract despite off-track turmoil

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan failed to attract any team during The Hundred draft for the 2024 season on Wednesday.

Azam and Rizwan were among the late additions to The Hundred draft along with Pakistan’s T20I captain Shaheen Afridi, however, only Afridi managed to secure a deal during the event.

Eight teams competing completed their squads for the upcoming fourth edition of The Hundred – England’s first-of-its-sort league – after a breathless day of drafting.

Earlier this month, more than 65 Pakistan players registered themselves for The Hundred 2024 Draft, however, only three players were picked.

Pace sensation Naseem Shah was roped in by Birmingham Phoenix for the highest price of £125,000.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Welsh Fire selected Shaheen Afridi for £100,000, who also played for the team in the previous edition of The Hundred.

Imad Wasim, the star all-rounder who played a key role in Islamabad United’s victory in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9, was once again picked by Trent Rockets for £100,000.

Leg-spinner Usama Mir was retained by Manchester Originals while Welsh Fire retained right-arm speedster Haris Rauf.

Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Amir also remained unsold as no franchise showed interest in them.

The eight-team tournament will kick off at The Oval on July 23 with the high-octane clash between Oval Invincibles and Birmingham Pheonix.

READ: Towhid Hridoy replaces Mushfiqur Rahim in the Bangladesh squad for the Sri Lanka Tests

Pakistan’s T20I captain Shaheen Afridi, as well as star batters Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan, have made late entries to The Hundred 2024 Draft, scheduled to take place on March 20 (today).

These three players have set a reserve price of £100,000 and will be available for selection by the eight teams participating in The Hundred.

Former Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof has also been added as a last-minute inclusion along with Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

Meanwhile, young batter Saim Ayub, who ended the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 with 345 runs in 11 games, has withdrawn his name from the The Hundred 2024 Draft.

Earlier this month, a total of 65 Pakistan players, including five women cricketers signed up for the The Hundred 2024 Draft.

Leg-spinner Usama Mir was retained by Manchester Originals while Welsh Fire retained right-arm speedster Haris Rauf.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Pakistan’s first-choice pacers Hasan Ali and Naseem Shah registered for The Hundred draft at a reserved price of £100,000. Whereas, Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed set their reserve prices at £75,000.

Mohammad Amir, Aamir Jamal, and Abdullah Shafique have set their base price at £60,000.

Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, and Imad Wasim signed up for the draft with a reserve price of £50,000 while Mir Hamza, Mohammad Hasnain, and Azam Khan entered with a £40,000 reserve price.

Furthermore, 46 Pakistan players signed up for The Hundred draft without a reserved price including Haider Ali, Umar Amin, Faheem Ashraf, Shahnawaz Dahani, Zaman Khan, Shan Masood, Mohammad Nawaz, Roman Raees, Saud Shakeel, Haneen Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

In the women’s category, Pakistan captain Nida Dar, alongside Iram Javed and Fatima registered with a reserved price of £17,500 while all-rounder Aliya Riaz and Javeria Rauf entered the draft without a specified reserve price.

READ: Stadium upgradation plan presented to PCB Chairman

Multan Sultans top-order batter Usman Khan has recently opened up about playing under the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Usman Khan represented Quetta Gladiators under Sarfaraz Ahmed during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six in 2021 before making a move to Multan Sultans, under the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan, in 2023.

During an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, Khan was asked to rate the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed, considering his experience of playing under both captains.

The 28-year-old batter pointed out that both captains are similar tactically however the major difference between them is the way they express their emotions during crunch stages.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“In some ways, they’re similar, in terms of their tactics and how they want to win games. Saifi bhai [Sarfaraz Ahmed] is a little more emotional and at times tenses up,” said Usman Khan.

“Rizwan bhai never blames a player or scolds them if they’ve gone for runs. No one gets told they’ve cost the team a game,” he added.

“Strategically they’re not dissimilar, but the way they react emotionally and psychologically to on-field events can be quite different,” he concluded.

Usman Khan is having a spectacular season for Multan Sultans in the ongoing PSL 9, sitting in the third position in the top run-scorers chart.

He has scored 373 runs in six innings, including two centuries and one half-century at a brilliant strike rate of 168.01.

READ: La Liga: Joao Felix on target as Barcelona thump Atletico Madrid

KARACHI: Multan Sultans’ captain Mohammad Rizwan on Sunday, downplayed the hype of the highly-anticipated Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 final, stating that he would approach it as a normal game.

Rizwan, who led Sultans to their third consecutive PSL final under his captaincy, expressed his excitement for the big match but at the same time refrained from taking the toll of the big-match pressure.

“We are playing the fourth consecutive final. Everyone in the team is excited but for me, the game is just like a season opener,” stated Rizwan.

Whereas, Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan was upbeat about playing the PSL final after a gap of six years.

“Our team bonding has always been top notch and we have stayed like a family and play like United,” Shadab said.

Both captains also requested the fans to come and fill the iconic National Bank Cricket Stadium in the PSL 9 final.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

For the unversed, Multan Sultans enjoyed a dream run in the ongoing PSL 9 as the former champions became the first team to qualify for the Playoffs.

The Sultans then outclassed Quetta Gladiators in their final group-stage fixture to end as the table toppers with 14 points in 10 matches.

The 2021 champions then eased past Peshawar Zalmi in the Qualifier to make their way into the final.

On the contrary, Islamabad United had a campaign full of ups and downs, the two-time champions had a forgetful start to their campaign but soon regrouped and got back on the winning track.

They then edged Sultans in their last fixture to seal their place in the Playoffs.

The United then emerged victorious in two consecutive knockout matches against Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi respectively and made their way to the PSL 9 final.

READ: Shadab Khan ‘hopeful’ of Imad Wasim taking back retirement