‘Rizwan k sath acha nhi kia’ – Fans tear apart Pakistan team management for dropping vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan against New Zealand
Mohammad Rizwan (Image Credit: Twitter)
Pakistan and New Zealand are locking horns in Karachi for the first Test of the two-match series. The home side has had a poor time in Test this year. At home, they hosted Australia and England after several years. In the midst of the historic occasion, what Pakistan suffered what an absolute disaster. They lost both series with the Three Lions clean sweeping them for the first time in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing game against the Kiwis, the team decided to drop vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan. He hasn been the shadow of himself with the bat in the longest format for a considerable time. The wicketkeeper batter has been replace by former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed. Notably, the right-hander played his last Test in January 2019, against South Africa. Not to forget, he was the captain of the team.
Meanwhile, the fans aren’t happy with the decision. They are bashin skipper Babar Azam and Shahid Afridi for the call. The latter has been recently appointed as the interim chief selector for Pakistan’s Men’s side.
This is how Twitter reacted
Good for Sarfaraz but extremely harsh on Rizwan. Not a fair call at all. You don't drop people in Test cricket just based on 6 innings.
— Osama (@sporrtingnerd) December 26, 2022
Sarfaraz Ahmed playing his first Test in Pakistan!
Mohammad Rizwan dropped!
Shahid Afridi dropped rizwan ??
Babar Azam dropped rizwan ??
Thats the question…… #PAKvNZ
— Pruthvi Patel (@Pruthvipatel98) December 26, 2022
Afridi na Rizwan k sath acha nhi kia
— Shahbaz Ali (@AliBhai13575742) December 26, 2022
The fact that Afridi being interim CS and 2 days into his job can force Babar to drop Rizwan says more about Babar than anyone else. He’s weak and pathetic. That’s how he captains the team as well
— Kamran Zia (@kamranzia01) December 26, 2022
Shahid Afridi has just did " Rahane" to Rizwan. #NZvPAK #CricketTwitter #BoxingDayTest @gurkiratsgill @toecrushrzzz @crickashish217 @manoj_dimri @Puneite_ @Akashkumarjha14
— priyanshu Rawat (@priyanshu1811) December 26, 2022
Rizwan AXED! Impulsive as Afridi Test Innings? https://t.co/pVonqAgX9u
— MJ (Jawad) (@Im_MJH) December 26, 2022
After 4 long years @SarfarazA_54 back in Pakistan team. Thank you @SAfridiOfficial for justice to deserving players. Mir Hamza playing test after 2018. Imamul haq back. Rizwan, Faheem, drop. Azhar retire.
— Abdul Majid Bhatti (@bhattimajid) December 26, 2022
On cricketing logic either way the decision was fine. Rizwan is out if sorts lately in batting. If you consider politics of it with @najamsethi @iRashidLatif68 etc introducing 90s politics in current team it is unfortunate
— Reason (@lappedapetite) December 26, 2022
Acha reality check dia gaya hai Rizwan ko k aisa sochna bhi mat k tum team say zyada important ho.
— Malik. (@WaeedAwan) December 26, 2022
How do you expect Babar to stand for Rizwan? In these circumstances, he is in no position to do his performance as a captain and Rizwan has been poor recently and they are up against two most influential Pakistani cricketers.
— DRS (@Slow_Bouncer) December 26, 2022
Pehle all of u wanted to remove Rizwan from test as he’s not performing well Ab jab wo nahi hei to bhi problem hei #PakvsNZ
— Dard e disco (@bajredaasita) December 26, 2022
Mohammad Rizwan shouldn’t be dropped but rested: Shahid Afridi
Ahead of the third Test against England, Afridi had said that Rizwan must be rested for the game. At theat time, the former wasn’t appointed as the chief selector. The 2009 20-20 World Cup winner also suggested Sarfaraz Ahmed’s comeback in the side.
“Main yeh nahi keh raha ki Rizwan ko drop kar diya jaaye lekin usko rest zaruur karaya ja sakta hai. Aap Test series haar gaye ho. Teesra match Karachi mein hai toh aap yaha chance de sakte hain. Why not Sarfaraz? Shan Masood… chances should be given. (He is the batting coach, right? So obviously, if the players do not perform, he will be asked questions. As a batting coach, this is his domain.
And about Rizwan, I have already said that the time has come to maybe give other players an opportunity. I am not saying drop Rizwan altogether, but he sure can be rested. You have lost the series and the third Test is in Karachi, so why not bring in someone like a Sarfaraz or Shan Masood),” he had told Samaa TV after Pakistan lost the series against England in Multan.
