According to Pakistani media reports, ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan chose to play club cricket instead of taking part in the National T20 Cup, which is organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Pakistan cricket is once again caught up in controversy. This decision has sparked criticism from many sides.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Sikander Bakht has also voiced his opinion, urging PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to take strict action and cancel Rizwan’s central contract.
Mohammad Rizwan is facing heavy criticism after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
Following the team’s early exit, Rizwan was also dropped from Pakistan’s T20I squad. He is currently not part of the team for the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
After Pakistan’s loss in the second T20I against New Zealand on Tuesday, former cricketer Sikander Bakht criticized centrally contracted players, calling them “employees” of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) who must be available for all board-organized tournaments.
He urged PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to take stricter action and enforce penalties on those who skip official events.
“Since these players earn ₹60 lakh per month, they should focus on playing in PCB-organized tournaments. “If they prioritize club cricket over PCB-organized tournaments, it’s disrespectful to the board,” Bakht told Geo Super.
“This shouldn’t be allowed,” Bakht said, urging PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to take a firmer stance. “He seems like a polite person, but he needs to be stricter. He should question what’s going on and take action. Be strict—cancel their central contracts,” he added.
Rizwan’s performance in the Champions Trophy was disappointing, both as a captain and a batsman. He struggled to make an impact, scoring just 49 runs in two matches—3 against New Zealand and 46 against India.
Cricket experts criticized Rizwan’s 46-run innings against India, saying he played too slowly during the middle overs.
Mohamnmad Rizwan took over as Pakistan’s ODI captain from Babar Azam and led the team to a series win against Australia in November 2024.
Pakistan’s performance has declined since their ODI series win against Australia.
Former Pakistan bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz criticized Rizwan’s body language during the Champions Trophy match against India.
“When I saw Rizwan at the toss, he looked confused and not like himself. He didn’t look like his usual self, and I’m not sure if it was due to pressure,” Nawaz told Cricbuzz.
“He was unusually quiet, not as vocal as he usually is. Something seemed off. Also, Pakistan’s team selection was very poor,” he added.
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