Islamabad: National team wicketkeeper-batter and Pindies captain in the PSL, Mohammad Rizwan, is facing criticism over his controversial remarks during PSL matches.
Sources say his comments during the toss and post-match presentations have been seen as against the spirit of sportsmanship.
During a match against Hyderabad Kingsmen, Rizwan stated that Hyderabad did not deserve to play in the PSL playoff round.
Before the match, when asked about Hyderabad’s qualification chances, he said the team should not have the right to reach the playoffs.
Even after his team suffered a heavy 108-run defeat, he repeated the same statement in the post-match presentation, saying Hyderabad should not be in the playoffs based on their early performances.
Rizwan has already been under pressure due to poor performances in recent tournaments.
He was dropped from Pakistan’s T20 squad last year and later played for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, where he scored only 187 runs in 10 matches without a single half-century. His best score was 41, and his strike rate remained low at 102.
In the ongoing PSL season as well, his bat has struggled, with only one half-century and defeats in almost every match except one.
Many cricket fans believe his exclusion from the T20 team was the right decision, while others have advised him to focus on ODI and Test cricket instead.
His recent statements have also increased criticism against him on both media and social platforms.
