Mohammed Rizwan spoke to media in Peshawar, Pakistan.© X (Twitter)
The examination of the Pakistan cricket team after their disastrous T20 World Cup run has been long and tough to say the least. Pakistan were considered the dark horses but failed to even make it out of the group stage. They were stunned by co-hosts and debutants USA in their opening match of the tournament and then lost to their arch rivals in a nail-biting match. Pakistan’s defeat meant they missed out on a place in the Super 8 qualifiers and the result caused uproar among current and former cricketers.
Babar Azam and his team have come under heavy criticism from fans and former cricketers with some even demanding that the board should sack the entire team for their abysmal performance in the T20 World Cup.
However, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammed Rizwan accepted the criticism the Pakistan players are facing, adding that it is all part of a big learning curve.
“The criticism the team is receiving is justified and it is only natural that we are being criticised as we have not performed as expected. Players who cannot withstand criticism cannot succeed. I am disappointed with our performance in the T20 World Cup. There are multiple reasons why we lost. We cannot say that our pitching or batting was well as the team lost,” Rizwan said at a press conference in Peshwawar.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi used the word “operation” at a press conference, suggesting the board could take extreme action against the players.
Expressing his views on the same, Rizwan acknowledged that it is the PCB chairman’s right to decide the future of Pakistan cricket.
“Surgery is normal. Sick people need surgery. The PCB chairman is a hardworking man. It is his right to decide who will stay in the team and who will not,” he added.
Rizwan also had a disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup, scoring 110 runs at an average of 36.66 with a batting average of 90.90.
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