‘We deserve this criticism’: Mohammad Rizwan on Pakistan’s poor T20 World Cup show – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s opener Mohammad Rizwan reflected on his team’s poor performance at the ICC T20 World Cup held in the West Indies and the USA. He acknowledged that the team deserves criticism for failing to advance in the tournament and recognized Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi’s right to decide the future composition of the team.

Pakistan concluded their World Cup campaign with a three-wicket win over Ireland in Florida during the Group Stage. This match was a dead rubber as India and the USA had already secured advancement to the Super 8 stage from Group A.

Placed in Group A, Pakistan suffered consecutive defeats against co-hosts USA and then against their arch-rivals India. The team managed to bounce back with victories over Canada and Ireland. However, these wins were insufficient to secure a spot in the Super 8.

Pakistan finished in third place in their group during the league stage, disqualifying them from moving forward due to net-run-rate constraints.

“The criticism the team is facing is justified and we deserve this since we did not perform in accordance with expectations. Players who cannot face criticism would not be able to succeed. We are disappointed with our performance in the T20 World Cup. There are multiple reasons behind our losses. When a team loses, one cannot say that bowling and batting is doing well,” Rizwan said.

Rizwan also compared the team to an ill person in need of an operation and said that the PCB chief has the right to decide on the team’s future.

“Operations are a normal thing. When a person is ill, the operation is necessary. PCB Chairman is a hard-working person. The decision about who will remain in the team and who will not is the chairman’s right,” he added.

Mohammad Rizwan compared the cricket team to an ill person needing an operation and emphasized that the PCB chief has the authority to decide on the team’s future.

Rizwan’s performance in the tournament was below expectations, accumulating only 110 runs in four innings, averaging 36.66 with a strike rate of 90.90.

He managed one fifty, scoring 53* against Canada. His teammate and captain, Babar Azam, also struggled with the bat, scoring 122 runs in four games at an average of 40.66, with his highest score being 44 and a strike rate of 101.66.