Pakistan’s white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan faced heavy criticism from fans after his knock of 74 off 62 balls in the first T20I against South Africa on Tuesday. Despite his efforts, Pakistan fell short by 12 runs while chasing a target of 184, leaving fans frustrated with Rizwan’s slow strike rate of 119.35, which consumed over half of the innings.
South Africa set a challenging total of 183, driven by David Miller’s explosive 82 off 40 balls. In response, Pakistan’s chase lacked momentum, with Rizwan’s cautious approach further slowing things down. The skipper reached his fifty off 50 balls in the 17th over, leaving little time to accelerate, a decision that proved costly for his team.
Social media erupted with backlash against Rizwan’s innings. One user on X remarked, “If Rizwan is not dropped permanently from this format after this innings, then we, as a nation, have failed.” Another wrote, “That innings by Rizwan was so frustrating to watch, even as a fan of the opposition.”
Rizwan, who succeeded Babar Azam as Pakistan’s white-ball captain after the team’s early exit in the T20 World Cup 2024, has faced mixed results as skipper. He secured a win in his first ODI series against Australia but suffered a 3-0 defeat in the subsequent T20I series.
Now trailing in the ongoing three-match T20I series in South Africa, Pakistan faces an uphill battle. The tour will continue with a three-match ODI series and conclude with two Test matches, which are crucial for South Africa’s push for a spot in the ICC World Test Championship Final in 2025.
