Mohammad Rizwan is a polarizing figure in the current Pakistan cricket setup; he divides opinion like no other. Some believe he is the only batter consistently scoring runs over the past year, a period during which the team as a whole has struggled.
Conversely, others think Rizwan is selfish, scoring runs only for his personal benefit rather than for the team. There are also claims that Rizwan is conspiring behind the scenes to become the next captain.
In a previous article, I discussed whether Rizwan is the right choice for captaincy. Today, I will delve into the argument that Rizwan only scores in losing causes and does not contribute to the team’s victories.
Read More: Mohammad Rizwan As Pakistan Captain: Is He The Right Choice?
Danish Kaneria’s Criticism
Recently, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria threw a spotlight on this issue. In a recent interview, Kaneria questioned Rizwan’s performance in crucial matches. He pointed to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 clash against India as a prime example.
Pakistan struggled to chase down a modest target of 120 runs, managing only 113 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Mohammad Rizwan was the top scorer with 31 runs off 44 balls but failed to steer the team to victory.
Kaneria criticized Rizwan, saying, “He doesn’t score runs when it matters, that’s the only problem. In the T20 World Cup, when Rizwan was on strike, Rohit Sharma deliberately brought in Jasprit Bumrah into the attack because he knew that he would get him out. It was very obvious.”
Analyzing Rizwan’s Numbers
Let’s break down Rizwan’s performance to get a clearer picture. In Test cricket, Rizwan has scored 1910 runs in 32 matches, averaging 44.41. Out of these matches, Pakistan lost 16, drew five, and won only 11.
While it’s clear that his most runs came in losses, it’s worth noting that his average in victories is 47.50, and in drawn matches, it spikes to 88. This suggests that Rizwan has played a significant role in either securing wins or saving matches from defeat.
In One-Day Internationals (ODIs), Rizwan has amassed 2088 runs from 74 games, with an average of 40.15. Pakistan has won 36 games, lost 36, and tied one.
His average in victorious games is a solid 60.44, while in losses, it drops to 30. This indicates that Rizwan’s contributions are crucial in wins and not just in losing causes.
T20 Internationals (T20Is) is where Rizwan faces the most criticism. With 3313 runs from 102 matches at an average of 48.72, Rizwan’s performance is notable.
He has scored 2351 runs in victories, averaging 69.14, compared to 898 runs in losses at an average of 28.96. His strike rate in wins is 132.15, while in losses, it is 115.57.
Read More: Basit Ali Backs Mohammad Rizwan As The Future Pakistan Captain
Rizwan’s Role In The Team
Rizwan is not an aggressive match-winner like Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, or Fakhar Zaman. He is more of a clinical player, akin to Misbah-ul-Haq or Kane Williamson, who keeps the scoreboard ticking and adapts his hitting according to the team’s needs.
While his strike rate may be a point of contention, it is unjust to label him as selfish or claim he only scores in losing causes. The numbers tell a different story.
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