Not a single day when Pakistan cricket is not in controversy, and now it never seems to end. Recently, Pakistani media reported that Mohammad Rizwan, the ODI captain of the team, chose to play local club cricket in Pakistan over participating in the National T20 Cup organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). This decision has sparked criticism from various cricket pundits, with former cricketer Sikander Bakht urging PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to be stricter and consider stopping Rizwan’s central contract.
Criticism and reactions
Sikander Bakht was vocal about his displeasure following Pakistan’s T20I loss to New Zealand, where the team lost the first two matches of the three-match series now, and they are on the verge of getting whitewashed. He expressed that contracts mean the players are PCB employees and should be available for all PCB-organised tournaments. “They get Rs 60 lakh per month, so they must play in the tournaments the PCB is organising. Playing club cricket instead is seen as an insult to the PCB,” Bakht said to Geo Super.
Rizwan’s Champions Trophy performance
Rizwan is already under scrutiny after Pakistan’s poor performance in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy. His team didn’t make it past the group stage. Rizwan’s batting was really bad, managing only 49 runs in two games, with 3 against New Zealand and 46 against India. His 46-run innings faced criticism for not keeping up the necessary tempo during crucial middle overs.
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Calls for Stricter Measures
Bakht has called on Mohsin Naqvi to take a firmer stance against such actions. “Mohsin Naqvi needs to be strict. He seems polite, but it’s time to change that. He should question what’s happening and consider stopping their central contracts,” he added. There are concerns that Rizwan’s leadership and body language during the Champions Trophy were not up to the mark, with former bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz noting his lack of usual energy and spirit during the toss against India.
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