Tag: Mohammad Rizwan

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has reportedly declined to sign his central contract, making him the only player among the 30 contracted cricketers who has yet to do so, sources revealed on Tuesday.

According to details, all other players have signed their respective contracts, but Rizwan has withheld his signature after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allegedly turned down a few of his personal demands.

“There’s currently no indication that the PCB will revisit Rizwan’s requests,” said one source familiar with the development.

For the unversed, Rizwan was included in Category B of the new central contracts, which also features nine other players, including star batter Babar Azam.

Notably, no cricketer was placed in Category A this time around.

The development comes shortly after Rizwan’s removal as Pakistan’s ODI captain, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking charge ahead of the upcoming home series against South Africa.

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Mohammad Rizwan was appointed Pakistan’s white-ball captain in October 2024, replacing Babar Azam.

He initially impressed with a series of strong results, including ODI series victories against Australia and South Africa away from home.

However, his stint in the T20I format faltered as Pakistan lost all four matches under his leadership, prompting the PCB to strip him of that role while retaining him as ODI captain.

His ODI captaincy tenure also came under scrutiny after Pakistan failed to qualify for the knockout stage of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, followed by a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand and a 2-1 series defeat to the West Indies.

In total, Rizwan captained Pakistan in 20 ODIs, winning nine and losing 11, finishing with a 45% win ratio.

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Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has expressed his excitement to don the Melbourne Renegades colours in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

In a video shared by the BBL’s official social media handles, Rizwan opened up about his admiration for Australian cricket and his hunger for new challenges.

“Look, my career, I always love challenges,” Rizwan said.

“And I have seen the cricket of Australia. The way I have played against these guys, they are challenging players. I love the way they play.”

The Pakistan star praised the Australian cricketing mindset, highlighting their discipline and clarity in execution.

“It doesn’t matter what the world is doing; Australian players always stick to their plans. Whatever they decide, they go for it, no matter the situation,” he added.

Set to join a new dressing room for the first time in a major franchise league outside Asia, Mohammad Rizwan shared his enthusiasm about integrating into the Renegades setup and learning from the experience.

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“I always love challenges, the atmosphere of the stadium, the people, the cricketers, I love them all,” he added.

“The cricket in the Big Bash is very competitive; it’s not easy cricket. Every game tests you.”

Calling the Renegades his “new family,” Rizwan expressed confidence that the experience would be both enjoyable and rewarding.

“Yes, the Renegades might be a new family for me, but they have a great history. We’ll enjoy our time together, let’s see what happens there,” he concluded.

The 15th season of the Big Bash League is set to begin on December 14, 2025, featuring 44 matches.

The opening fixture will see Perth Scorchers take on Sydney Sixers at the Perth Stadium, a contest that will also mark Babar Azam’s much-anticipated BBL debut.

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Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has slammed the decision to appoint Shaheen Afridi as the One Day International (ODI) captain of national cricket team.

Shaheen replaced wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan as captain of national ODI team.

The left-arm pacer’s first assignment will be the forthcoming three-match series against South Africa, which will begin on November 4 at Faisalabad Cricket Stadium.

The decision to appoint Shaheen as captain was taken at a meeting held in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by head coach Mike Hesson, director of high performance Aqib Javed and members of the selection committee.

Following the decision, Amir believed this is not a good decision under the circumstances.

“I don’t think Mohammad Rizwan has been treated fairly. Rizwan was not a bad one-day captain,” he remarked via a video on his social media handle.

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He led Pakistan to series wins in South Africa and Australia — something even some of our biggest captains couldn’t achieve. We should not have forgotten that,” Amir continued.

The 33-year-old stressed long-term planning and rued himself alongside former cricketers for destablization in Pakistan cricket while lavishing praise on Rizwan’s captaincy.

“Captaincy should not depend on just one good or bad series. We are all responsible for this — former cricketers and analysts included. We don’t allow stability in our cricket,” he added.

“Captains are not made overnight; it takes two to three years to build one. But here, one bad series is enough to replace a captain. I don’t think this is the right call. Rizwan is a smart captain and he has that knack of captaincy.”

He suggested that if Shaheen was to be handed the reins of the national team, he should have first been made vice-captain.

“If Shaheen had to be made captain, he could have first been appointed as vice-captain, and his performance judged accordingly — especially considering his fitness,” he concluded.

READ: Shaheen Afridi replaces Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s ODI captain

LAHORE: Shaheen Shah Afridi has been appointed as Pakisan new ODI captain, replacing wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan following a leadership review by team management.

Shaheen will captain Pakistan in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, set to begin on November 4.

The decision to appoint Shaheen Shah Afridi was taken at a meeting held in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by head coach Mike Hesson, director of high performance Aqib Javed and members of the selection committee.

The move also came following Pakistan’s string of disappointing ODI performances this year.

The Men in Green failed to advance beyond the first round of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, before suffering a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand and a 2-1 series defeat to the West Indies.

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Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi has enjoyed remarkable success as captain of the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), leading them to three title wins.

Interestingly, this would not be Shaheen’s first stint as national captain. He previously led Pakistan in the T20I format but was replaced after just one series.

During Shaheen Afridi captaincy in January 2024, Pakistan lost five-match series 4-1 against Zealand.

The defeat resulted in captaincy change as he was replaced in the role by star batter Babar Azam, who led the side until the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 played in USA and West Indies.

Mohammad Rizwan, who was appointed Pakistan white-ball captain on October 27, 2024, delivered some impressive results during his breif tenure, including memorable ODI series wins in Australia and South Africa.

However, his tenure in the T20I format ended soon after Men in Green lost all four T20Is under his leadership.

Overall, Rizwan captained Pakistan in 20 ODIs, winning nine and losing 11, finishing with a winning percentage of 45.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly weighing a significant leadership change in the ODI setup, with left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi emerging as the frontrunner to replace Mohammad Rizwan as captain.

According to reports, the move is being discussed following Pakistan’s string of disappointing ODI performances this year.

The Men in Green failed to advance beyond the first round of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, before suffering a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand and a 2-1 series defeat to the West Indies.

With the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 already on the horizon, the PCB is said to be considering sweeping changes aimed at reinvigorating the team’s approach and results in the 50-over format.

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Shaheen Afridi, who has enjoyed remarkable success as captain of the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), leading them to three title wins, is viewed as a strong contender to bring fresh energy and direction to the ODI side.

Interestingly, this would not be Shaheen’s first stint as national captain. He previously led Pakistan in the T20I format but was replaced after just one series.

The PCB’s decision-making group is expected to finalise discussions in the coming week, with the squad announcement for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa also on the horizon.

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LAHORE: Wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan is among the four players from Pakistan’s 18-member squad who are set to feature in the opening round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) ahead of the first Test against South Africa.

According to the reports, the four players are being provided with the opportunity to sharpen their skills by featuring in the opening round of the country’s premier first-class tournament.

Besides Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Ali, and Sajid Khan are the other players who will represent their regions in the tournament on the directives of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

As per the reports, Mohammad Rizwan and Sajid Khan will represent Peshawar Region in the 10-team tournament, while Salman Ali Agha and Hasan Ali will play for Sialkot and Lahore Whites, respectively.

The opening round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy ends on October 9, two days before the Test series begins at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The 10-team tournament will be played across four cities: Abbottabad, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi.

Quaid Azam Trophy Teams

Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, FATA, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi Blues, Lahore Whites, Multan, Peshawar, and Sialkot.

Hanif Mohammad Trophy Qualifying Teams

FATA, Faisalabad, Karachi Blues, Multan

First round fixtures

6-9 October

Abbottabad v Bahawalpur at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium

Lahore Whites v Islamabad at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Peshawar v Sialkot at Imran Khan Stadium, Peshawar

FATA v Multan at Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad

Faisalabad v Karachi Blues at Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad

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Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has urged the selectors to recall senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Naseem Shah, stressing that the national T20I side looks incomplete without them.

Speaking in an interview during the ongoing ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, Hafeez said Pakistan’s mixed results in the tournament underline the need for experienced campaigners.

“I would still say today that this team definitely needs three players: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Naseem Shah,” Hafeez remarked.

“First, they should be properly consulted, and things should be explained to them in the right way. Babar definitely has a place in this team, I’ve said it before as well, that without him, this is an incomplete team.”

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

Hafeez, who has also served as team director in the past, argued that proven performers cannot be sidelined if Pakistan are to compete with top teams.

“Babar must be in this team, Naseem Shah must also be in this team, and thirdly, since Haris has not yet been able to adjust at the international level, Rizwan should take his place,” he added.

The former all-rounder maintained that while team management is responsible for player utilization, the presence of experienced names provides the balance needed to perform under pressure.

“The way to get performances, the way to utilize players, that is for the management to decide. But if we include these three players in our team, we will have a better chance to perform in any given condition against any opposition,” Hafeez noted.

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This Asia Cup is Pakistan’s first major tournament without Babar and Rizwan, both of whom have been central figures in the T20I setup since the 2021 World Cup in the UAE

They were dropped after the South Africa series in December last year, as selectors looked to prioritize younger talent ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.

Naseem, meanwhile, has been sidelined after a dip in form. The right-arm quick has played 30 T20Is for Pakistan, taking 25 wickets at an economy of 8.01, but has been left out of the current campaign.

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ABU DHABI: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has joined star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in an elite list during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Farhan struck 24 off 15 deliveries, laced with two sixes and a four, entering the record books as he became only the fourth batter from the country to score 1,500 T20 runs in a calendar year.

He reached the landmark in his 35th innings of the year.

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Prior to Farhan, only Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shan Masood had crossed the 1,500-run barrier in a calendar year.

Babar has done it thrice (2019, 2021, 2024), Rizwan achieved it in back-to-back years (2021 and 2022), while Shan managed the feat in 2022.

Farhan’s tally in 2025 has been accumulated through his performances for Pakistan, Peshawar Region, and Islamabad United, underlining his consistency across formats and tournaments.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

The 29-year-old also made headlines earlier on Sunday with a striking celebration after notching up a half-century against India.

He reached the landmark by launching Axar Patel for a six and marked the moment by mimicking his bat “firing runs like bullets,” a gesture that quickly went viral among fans.

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DUBAI: Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson opened up on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s strike rates amid the debate surrounding their style of play and the modern-day requirements of T20I cricket.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not part of Pakistan’s shorter format plans, with their previous appearance in the T20Is coming in December 2024 against South Africa.

Both players, who have captained Pakistan in T20Is, were left out of the team despite being the most successful pair in the shorter version of the game.

Speaking to the reporters in the pre-match press conference, Hesson addressed the debate surrounding the ace duo’s strike rates.

“I think being honest in your assessment of players is important. What matters is coming from a place with no agenda, being objective, and being clear. I haven’t talked about anyone’s frailties specifically, but I have alluded to the demands of the modern game,” he said.

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“The strike rates required in the powerplay, especially in good conditions, are different now than they used to be. Players ask for honesty—they want to know what they need to work on. If you provide that feedback, there’s always a way back for them, ” Hesson explained.

He emphasized honesty and team requirements, mentioning that it’s players’ responsibility to improve in certain areas.

“It’s not about liking a player or having a relationship with them; it’s about being honest about their role and what the team needs. Then it’s up to the players to work on those areas. That’s what I ask of anyone, whether they’re current players or trying to fight their way back into the team,” the coach said.

Mike Hesson highlighted team totals, stressing team team-first approach while noting that all other factors like strike rates, averages, and six counts are secondary.

“For me, it’s about the sum of the parts. What does the team achieve on the day, and is it good enough? Sometimes 150 is a winning score, sometimes 190 isn’t. It’s about assessing what’s required to win and whether we can get above that. That’s all that matters—not averages, not strike rates, not six counts,” he concluded.

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Former Australian speedster Brett Lee has included Pakistan wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan and pacer Haris Rauf in his all-time Asian T20I team.

The continental tournament is currently underway, with the opening match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

During an interview with Fox Sports, Lee picked 12 players from Asia, including two Pakistani players.

Lee’s started with Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as openers, who retired from the format last year after leading Men in Blue to the 2024 World Cup triumph.

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Rohit (4231 runs) is the highest run-scorer in the shorter format, only ahead of Pakistan’s ace batter Babar Azam, who has 4223 runs to his name.

The 48-year-old also picked Mohammad Rizwan, who is the seventh-highest run scorer in T20Is. However, the right-hander is not included in Pakistan’s squad for the continental tournament.

“I think he [Rizwan] should definitely get an opportunity to be in that all-time T20I team because of what he’s achieved. Now, the conjecture is over here that he’s not going to play in this series, which is surprising to me, ” he said about Mohammad Rizwan.

Along with Rizwan, Haris Rauf was also included in Lee’s All-time Asia XI due to his sheer pace and wicket-taking ability.

“Haris Rauf has got the pace and balls at the death,” he said.

Interestingly, Brett Lee included Babar Hayat from Hong Kong, Amjad Javed from UAE, and Mohammad Naveed in a lineup featuring star players from Asia.

The inclusion of Babar Hayat is understandable due to his being the third-highest scorer in Asia Cup T20I history with 235 runs.

Brett Lee All-time Asian T20I Team

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Hayat, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Rashid Khan, Amjad Javed, Mohammad Naveed, Haris Rauf, and Jasprit Bumrah.

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