Mohammad Rizwan breaks silence on criticism after T20 World Cup debacle

PESHAWAR: Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan on Tuesday, finally broke silence on the ongoing criticism aimed at the national men’s cricket team following their dismal run at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Rizwan, while speaking to the media here, acknowledged that the team’s performance was far below expectations and also said the criticism national players are facing is “justified”.

“The criticism team is facing is justified and we deserve this since we didn’t perform in accordance with expectations. Players who can’t face criticism won’t be able to succeed,” Rizwan said.

The top-order batter also shared that the team itself is disappointed with the outcome.

“We are disappointed with our performance in T20 World Cup. There are multiple reasons behind our losses. When a team loses, one can’t say that bowling and batting is doing well,” stated Rizwan.

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Mohammad Rizwan also reacted to the reports regarding a “major surgery” of the national men’s team following their dismal run at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

“Operations are a normal thing. When a person is ill, operation is necessary,” Rizwan said.

“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 concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan team is in hot water following their dismal run in the T20 World Cup 2024.

The 2009 champions, in a first, were knocked out from the group stage of the tournament, majorly because of their upset defeat against the USA, followed by a gut-wrenching defeat against arch-rivals India.

The back-to-back defeats had put Pakistan on the verge of an early exit from the tournament while the abandonment of the crucial group-stage fixture between USA and Ireland officially marked the end of their campaign in T20 World Cup 2024.

READ: Shaheen Afridi reacts to national team’s “surgery” reports