Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan: “I never refused to play one down. When I was asked, I said I am absolutely available”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has made it clear that he “never refused” to bat at number three in T20Is.
Rizwan has opened the batting for the last couple of years, mostly with limited overs captain Babar Azam.
However, in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in January 2024, it was Azam who was shifted to bat at one down as Saim Ayub took over his opening spot.
The 29-year-old was upset at having to give up his place at the top of the order, saying he “wasn’t satisfied with the decision.”
Should Rizwan be asked to bat at number three in the future, the 31-year-old from Peshawar reiterated that he is more than happy to.
“I never refused to play one down. When I was asked, I said I am absolutely available,” he told Cricket Pakistan.
Rizwan recently captained the Multan Sultans in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and finished as the third-highest run-scorer with 407 runs in 12 games, which included four fifties, at an average of 33.91 and a strike-rate of 122.22.
The Sultans made it to their fourth successive final, but lost to Islamabad United by two wickets.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which will be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from April 18 to 27.
Pakistan Squad for New Zealand T20I Series: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan
Non-travelling reserves: Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha