Tag: Mohammad Rizwan

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Skills Development Camp kicked off in Lahore on Monday, with prominent national stars including Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan actively participating on day one.

The camp, being held at the LCCA Ground under the supervision of National Cricket Academy (NCA) coaches, is structured in three phases.

The opening phase features 15 players and is focused on fine-tuning skills in fielding, batting, and fitness.

The first session of the day began with high-intensity fielding drills, where both Babar and Rizwan were seen leading from the front.

Batting coach Hanif Malik, alongside other NCA coaches, conducted technical batting sessions aimed at refining players’ technique and shot selection. Gym work and strength training were also part of the routine.

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According to a PCB spokesperson, the primary objective of the camp is to enhance individual skill levels and prepare players for upcoming domestic and international assignments.

The players attending the first phase include: Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Babar Azam, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Muqeem.

The afternoon session on Day 1 focused on bowling and fielding-specific drills, ensuring a comprehensive workload for the participants.

The second and third phases of the camp will begin on June 23 and June 30, respectively, with additional players expected to join.

PCB officials say this initiative is part of a broader strategy to invest in long-term player development through consistent, skill-based training and proper fitness management, aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s talent pool.

READ: MLC 2025: Haris Rauf, Xavier Bartlett star as Unicorns defeat MI New York

Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has thrown his support behind the experienced duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, stating that they will prove everyone wrong if they adjust their approach to playing T20 cricket.

While speaking on a sports platform, Imad commented on Pakistan’s new white-ball head coach’s approach to playing modern-day cricket.

“Simple is that — that should be the message and if they are willing to change it, if they want to play happy for them because they are such big players such big names for Pakistan and fans because people want to see them play like this and I am specifically talking about T20 cricket,” Imad said when asked about Babar Azam’s and Mohammad Rizwan place in T20I team.

Imad Wasim clarified the earlier criticism of Babar Azam’s place in the Pakistan team.

He further emphasised that both players need to reflect on their approach in T20 cricket while believing in their ability to bounce back in the shorter format.

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“I am not talking about ODI or Test cricket because in ODI cricket Babar has got the best record in the world he will never be dropped to be honest and even in Test cricket so no question about Babar’s performance like it’s 50-over format you need some players to play like that and Babar does it better than anyone else in the world so One-Day cricket is totally different,” he explained.

“But T20 I am talking about, I think they need to reflect if they want to play T20 cricket and I know they can play and hopefully they will turn up and prove everybody wrong and I should be the one who will praise them,” Imad Wasim. concluded.

It is noteworthy to mention that former Pakistan captain Babar Azam last played a T20I in December 2023. Since then, he has missed both the home series against New Zealand in March and the ongoing three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, which began on May 28 in Lahore.

READ: Usama Mir, Mohammad Hasnain among new entrants in BBL 15 draft pool

Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan are among the Pakistan players who have registered for the upcoming draft of the Big Bash League (BBL) season 15, scheduled to take place on June 19.

Joining them on the draft list are fellow internationals Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan, forming a strong Pakistan contingent aiming for another stint in one of the world’s premier T20 leagues.

This year’s BBL draft is set to be one of the most competitive yet, with over 600 overseas players putting their names forward.

Pakistan’s gap in the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) from November to February provides their top cricketers a window of opportunity to participate in the BBL 15.

Brisbane Heat hold the No. 1 pick for the men’s draft and will have the first chance to pick from a star-studded pool.

Alongside the Pakistani quartet, the initial draft list also features England’s Sam Curran and Alex Hales, New Zealand duo Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera, and West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph.

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The women’s draft for WBBL 11 will run parallel, and Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana is part of the nomination list.

Other big names include England’s Heather Knight, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge; India’s Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey; South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail and Chloe Tryon; and West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin.

BBL General Manager Alistair Dobson welcomed the high-profile names registering for this year’s drafts, calling it a sign of the league’s global appeal.

“Names like Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Heather Knight, and Sophie Ecclestone show that the BBL and WBBL remain attractive leagues for top international talent,” Dobson said.

“The presence of these stars will add a new flavour to the Big Bash this season.”

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Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has thrown his weight behind the decision to exclude star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the national T20I team.

Babar and Rizwan were dropped earlier this year for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, a decision the selection committee described as a move to test younger players ahead of the T20 World Cup.

The star batters have also been left out of the ongoing home series against Bangladesh.

Speaking on a recent podcast, Kamran Akmal addressed the growing speculation that both batters might be permanently phased out of Pakistan’s T20 plans.

“That’s absolutely the right decision,” said the 43-year-old. “I believe this should happen because these players are more suited for the longer format of the game.”

Taking it a step further, Akmal even questioned their place in the ODI setup, suggesting that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan should focus solely on red-ball cricket moving forward.

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“After another six months, they should be sidelined from ODIs too. Pakistan hardly plays Test matches these days — no one’s even talking about them — but if real players are made anywhere, it’s through Test cricket,” he remarked.

The former wicket-keeper reiterated the foundational value of red-ball cricket, asserting that mastering Test cricket improves a cricketer’s game across all formats.

“You can’t just play T20 and expect to be great at Test cricket too. If someone plays Test matches, they can handle ODIs and T20Is as well,” Kamran Akmal added.

It’s worth noting that a new-look Pakistan side, under Salman Ali Agha’s captaincy, managed to win only one game during the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

However, they had a strong start to their current home series against Bangladesh, winning the first match by 37 runs.

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LAHORE: Pakistan’s newly appointed head coach, Mike Hesson, has expressed confidence in the abilities of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, calling them vital to the team’s white-ball strategy.

Both senior players were previously dropped for the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year, a move by the selection committee aimed at giving younger players international exposure.

Rizwan, after leading the side in just two series, was also relieved of T20I captaincy duties, with Salman Ali Agha stepping in as the new skipper.

Speaking to the media here, Hesson praised Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s abilities while highlighting specific areas for improvement.

“Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are top-class players. Both are a part of our white-ball plans,” He told reporters.

“There are areas where they can improve, and they are working on those,” he added.

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Mike Hesson emphasised an aggressive brand of cricket, stating that they are very clear about the style of play they want to adopt.

“We want to play aggressive cricket, but also smart cricket. We’re very clear about the brand of cricket we want to play,” Mike Hesson explained.

Mike Hesson’s first assignment will be a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.

“Our aim is to begin this new journey on a positive note and perform well to improve our rankings,” he said of the home series against Bangladesh.

The new coach further lauded Bangladesh as a competitive opponent and ruled out any complacency, “They are a strong side and play good cricket. We will not take them lightly.”

Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup, Hesson concluded, “We are fully focused on preparing well for the World Cup and are optimistic about putting in a strong performance during the tournament.”

READ: ‘I’ve done it too’: Imad Wasim on Sikandar Raza’s last-minute arrival in PSL final

RAWALPINDI: Multan Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan shared his thoughts after the team’s narrow loss against Quetta Gladiators in the 28th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10. 

Defending a challenging 186-run target, Multan Sultans crumbled under pressure and lost the match on the last ball of the final over. The loss marked the end of Sultan’s horror campaign in PSL 10, which saw nine losses out of 10 games.

Gladiators started the chase rapidly as Khawaja Nafay and skipper Saud Shakeel put on a blazing 77-run stand in 7.5 overs. Nafay, in only his second match of the season, scored a brisk half-century, setting the tone for the chase.

Multan Sultans had their moments in the game, but they were unable to secure a victory, falling short against their opponents.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

Hasan Nawaz was once again the hero for Quetta Gladiators with an unbeaten 67 off 38 balls, with the help of two fours and half a dozen sixes. He was awarded Player of the Match for his outstanding knock.

The victory secured Quetta Gladiators’ top spot on the table with 15 points from 10 matches.

While speaking during the post-match presentation, Rizwan praised Hasan Nawaz’s knock, mentioning that youngsters will certainly benefit the Pakistan cricket.

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“It was a good match, and I think everyone enjoyed it. Hasan Nawaz is improving day by day, and the progress of the youngsters will certainly benefit Pakistan cricket,” he said.

Despite Multan Sultans being on the losing side most of the time in the tournament, Mohammad Rizwan is the leading run-scorer of PSL 10.

He amassed 367 runs in 10 innings at an average of 52.42 with the help of a century and a half-century.

READ: PSL 10: Quetta Gladiators seal top spot with last-ball win over Multan Sultans

Pakistan’s newly appointed head coach, Mike Hesson, is reportedly pushing for the return of star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan into the national T20I team.

Reports suggest that the head coach considers both batters key to the team’s preparations for the 2025 ACC Asia Cup and the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.

Both senior players were previously dropped for the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year, a move by the selection committee aimed at giving younger players international exposure.

Rizwan, after leading the side in just two series, was also relieved of T20I captaincy duties, with Salman Ali Agha stepping in as the new skipper.

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However, Hesson appears keen on bringing back experience into the dressing room, albeit with a fresh approach.

Reliable sources confirm that the former New Zealand coach recently held a strategic meeting with selector Aqib Javed at the PCB headquarters, where player roles and team composition were thoroughly discussed.

Insiders close to the development reveal that Hesson still views Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan as “match-winners” but wants the duo to evolve their game, particularly by improving their strike rates and adopting a more aggressive mindset in the shortest format.

While the upcoming five-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled in Faisalabad and Lahore later this month, may still be used to test new faces, the long-term blueprint seems to include a blend of youth and proven performers.

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Pakistan top-order batter Babar Azam came out in strong support of his teammate Mohammad Rizwan, criticizing the way people have reacted to his ‘win or learn’ remark.

Pakistan’s wicket-keeper and ODI captain, Mohammad Rizwan, popularised the phrase “Win or Learn” to promote a positive outlook after defeat.

However, it has been turned into a meme by social media trolls, who mock his English-speaking skills.

While speaking on Peshawar Zalmi YouTube channel, Babar shed light on meme culture and Rizwan’s comment. He pointed out that Rizwan’s comment was made from a different perspective and didn’t deserve to be blown out of proportion.

“Who created this? This was created by our own. It’s always our own who are busy pulling each other down,” he said.

“If he [Rizwan] said something and he said it from a different perspective — you can interpret and present it however you want,” Babar added.

Babar Azam stressed mental health, mentioning the need to look after players these days. He lamented the lack of awareness and support for mental health in Pakistan, especially in sports.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

“In Pakistan, there is no concept of mental health, nor is there any work being done on it, while foreign players give mental health a lot of importance,” he observed.

“Here, if someone is falling, we just keep pushing them down — and make memes out of them,” he said.

Despite the criticism, Babar praised Rizwan’s mental strength and faith, citing his remarks.

“It [win or learn] statement didn’t affect him in the slightest. He is the kind of person who doesn’t care what people say and doesn’t pay attention to it.”

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“He is very strong — stronger than all of us, and his faith is unshakable.” “Memes have zero effect on Rizwan.  He says people have the right to express their opinions, and he’s not bothered by it,” Babar Said of Rizwan.

Babar also noted the fickle nature of public opinion, citing Rizwan’s captaincy.

“A lot of people used to say, ‘If Rizwan becomes captain, this and that will happen.’ Now they’re saying, ‘Remove him.’ No one understands this better than I do.”

“Whatever you feed into people’s minds, that’s exactly what they will follow,” he concluded.

READ: Babar Azam vows strong comeback amid batting struggles

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has criticised Mohammad Rizwan, stating bluntly that the Multan Sultans skipper is “not captain material” and should never be given such responsibilities again.

Speaking on a private sports show, Akmal didn’t hold back in his assessment of Rizwan’s captaincy, particularly after Multan Sultans’ crushing defeat at the hands of Peshawar Zalmi in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

“If the Pakistan Cricket Board has the courage, they should make a firm decision and never give such powers to him [Rizwan] again. He is simply not captain material,” said Akmal.

He was especially scathing about Rizwan’s tactical choices in the game against Zalmi, where Sultans were thoroughly outplayed, losing by seven wickets with a staggering 42 balls to spare.

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“The way he set up the team against Peshawar and the manner in which they played was beyond comprehension,” he said. “Now, after what happened against Peshawar Zalmi, everyone is talking.”

The criticism has surged following a lacklustre season for Multan, led by captain Mohammad Rizwan.

Their PSL 10 campaign began on a disheartening note with a four-wicket defeat against the Karachi Kings, a match that left fans reeling.

The struggles continued as they faced off against the reigning champions, Islamabad United, only to succumb yet again.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

The disappointment deepened with another loss, this time at the hands of Peshawar Zalmi, further dampening the spirits of the Multan supporters.

Despite a fleeting moment of resurgence marked by a convincing 33-run triumph over the Lahore Qalandars, the Sultans’ hopes quickly unravelled, revealing the harsh reality of their downward spiral.

The team suffered a staggering defeat in their next four matches, imperilling their playoff ambitions and marking a stark contrast to their past PSL performances, where they had stood as one of the league’s most formidable contenders under the astute leadership of Mohammad Rizwan.

READ: PCB addresses PSL 10 speculation amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions

MULTAN: Multan Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan expressed disappointment over poor execution in the loss to Peshawar Zalmi in the 25th match of the Pakistan Super League (10) here on Monday.

Peshawar Zalmi chased down the modest total of 109 in 13 overs, losing just three wickets in the process.

Saim Ayub starred with bat, scoring 49 off 33 balls, striking four fours and three sixes while Ahmed Daniyal bagged ‘Player of the Match’ award for his outstanding three wicket haul.

Earlier, Multan Sultans were bowled out for 108 in 19.1 overs in a poor batting display. The loss marked Multan Sultans’ eighth defeat of the season, with only one win out of nine matches.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

While speaking during the post-match presentation, Mohammad Rizwan emphasized on pitch, pointing out that the pitch behaved differently in the second innings.

“The ball was coming onto the bat well in the first innings, but it started to behave a bit differently later on. In the second innings, they batted really well, and unfortunately, we failed to execute our plans,” he said.

He further emphasized the younger players, praising their performances while also highlighting the contributions of the players from last season.

“Shahid has bowled exceptionally well, and we also have Ubaid, who’s been doing a great job. The youngsters are performing really well—Ali Raza, for instance, has impressed.”

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“Last season, we had top players like Mohammad Ali, but now they’re playing for different teams. The names in the squad don’t matter much; if you drop too many catches, it will cost you, Rizwan added.

At last, Mohammad Rizwan aimed to provide a performance that would once again fill Multan Cricket stadium.

“The Multan crowd supports good cricket, and I hope we can give them a performance that fills the stadium again,” Mohammad Rizwan concluded.

READ: PSL 10: Daniyal, Ayub shine as Peshawar Zalmi thump Multan Sultans