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Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter and ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan has recently been subject to sharp criticism from Test cricketer Umar Akmal.
Akmal believes the Multan Sultans skipper needs to evolve his game and mindset if he hopes to stage a meaningful comeback at the international level.
Speaking on a local TV channel, Akmal expressed concern over Rizwan’s approach in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, suggesting that the right-hander appeared more focused on personal milestones than team success.
“It looks like [Mohammad] Rizwan is playing for a comeback. That’s not how comebacks happen,” Umar Akmal remarked.
“Even if he scores just 20 runs, the team should win. If the team wins, selectors will automatically recognise his contributions.”
Akmal emphasised that selfless performances — those that directly contribute to victories — are what truly strengthen a player’s case for national selection.
“You cannot make a successful comeback by playing only for yourself,” he reiterated, underlining the importance of impact over individual stats.
Umar Akmal also urged Rizwan to improve his strike rate, warning that his place in the ODI setup could come under scrutiny if his current approach persists.
“Even as captain, if Rizwan underperforms in one or two series, it will become very difficult for him moving forward,” Akmal added.
Critiquing the overall mindset of Pakistan’s limited-overs cricket, Akmal stressed the need to embrace modern-day aggression and set higher scoring benchmarks.
“In today’s cricket, aiming for just 200 or 250 isn’t enough. That era is gone. Unless teams score 350 in ODIs, they aren’t secure. Big totals are now essential to stay competitive,” he concluded.
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