Pakistan cricket team captain Mohammad Rizwan admitted that the team has the tendency to crack under pressure in tense situations. His remarks came just ahead of the side’s Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand. The ICC event will kick-start from February 19, marking the return of a global event to Pakistan after decades.
Rizwan’s huge admission ahead of Champions Trophy
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Champions Trophy, Rizwan said that Pakistan lacked that 1-2% needed to win games in pressure situations. He pointed out that the side had the tendency to crack under pressure that eventually costs them the game. He stressed that it was important for Pakistan to play in their optimum level in order to win matches.
“I think we lack that one or two per cent needed to win matches under pressure because unfortunately, we tend to crack under pressure and lose close matches as we have seen in recent games,” Rizwan said.
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Pakistan will commence their title defence as they take on the Kiwis in the Champions Trophy opener. Rizwan hoped that the team replicate their heroics from 2017 when Sarfaraz Ahmed and co. lifted the trophy.
“If you see, even in those 10 years (that) we suffered, Pakistan cricket did well and won big matches including being the Test No 1team and (winning the) Champions Trophy. I hope we can repeat that same thing in this tournament,” he added.
Pakistan lost the Tri-Nation series, with New Zealand handing the hosts a 5-wicket defeat in the final. Rizwan and co. will be aiming to kick-start their CT 2025 campaign with a win.
Pakistan Champions Trophy squad
Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Khan, Saud Shakeel
