Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has been amid criticism following his series of poor performances with the bat. Currently leading the newly formed team – Rawalpindi Pindiz in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, Rizwan has failed to put things right, with the team suffering 7 defeats in a row.
Their latest defeat came against the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, on Saturday, but what caught the eye was Rizwan’s honest admission pertaining to his place in the national side.
What did Rizwan say?
Addressing the post-match press conference following Rawalpindi Pindiz’s 32-run defeat, Rizwan gave an honest assessment of his form, while clarifying that he has never shied away from self-criticism. “When I was playing in the Big Bash League, after I got selected, I clearly said there that based on this performance, I don’t deserve a place in the Pakistan team. I was the same person sitting in front of you, and you people were the ones who said I couldn’t hit sixes, if you remember,” Rizwan said when asked about his form and place in the Pakistan team.
The right-hander also revealed a candid conversation he had with Haris Rauf, where he stated, “Even now, I’m being honest – Haris Rauf is sitting right behind, and if we had that conversation, he would be a witness. When we were having dinner there, I told Haris that with my current performance in the Big Bash League, I don’t deserve a place in the Pakistan team. The words he said to me at that time, I can’t repeat – but he knows.”
Rizwan’s poor run continues in PSL 2026
Rizwan, who has appeared in over a hundred ODIs and T20Is, amassing 2979 and 3414 runs respectively, has been struggling to get runs from his bat in PSL 2026. Rizwan has scored just 107 runs from seven games at 15.28 with a poor strike rate of 116.30. Earlier in Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26, he managed 187 runs while averaging 18.70 across 10 games.
Lowest strike rates in PSL 2026 (minimum 60 balls & 5 innings)
| Player | Strike Rate |
|---|---|
| Muhammad Waseem | 117.8 |
| Rilee Rossouw | 117.97 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 118.07 |
| Saad Baig | 125.77 |
| Usman Khan | 126.66 |
| Marnus Labuschagne | 126.87 |
Speaking of the Rawalpindi Pindiz, the team who boasts of names like Rizwan, Ben Sears, Daryl Mitchell, Mohammad Amir and others are struggling in their debut edition as they are yet to get a win under their belt. Having slumped to seven defeats on the trot, they will look to get back when they face Multan Sultans on Tuesday, April 21 at the National Stadium in Karachi.
