"Difficult to play an anchor role in T20s & sometimes it looks very embarrassing": Mohammad Rizwan

[MenInG]

"Difficult to play an anchor role in T20s & sometimes it looks very embarrassing": Mohammad Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan, who is playing for Comilla Victorians in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League, feels that everywhere he is picked in the franchise-based T20 cricket tournament, he is asked to stay at the wicket without taking too much risk in order to make sure other batters can play in their natural free-flowing style without worrying too much about what is happening at the other end.

"It is very difficult role (anchor role in shortest format) and sometimes it looks very embarrassing," Rizwan told reporters. "What my experience says and what I know is that whenever someone hires me, they demand me to play the anchor role like the way I do in Pakistan.

"I always assess the condition, assess the opponent and do these kinds of things (anchoring the innings) and sometimes it is embarrassing because in T20 everyone knows we love sixes and they want me to score 60-70 runs from 35-45 balls, but for me to win the match.

The number two T20I batter added that he chose to travel the path of anchoring the innings due to the fact he is well aware he can accelerate the run rate at the later part of the innings.

Unlike some other leading T20 batters in the world who can get going from the word go, Rizwan holds back from playing over-the-top shots.

"You can look at the scoreboard and see what the team demand from you. Basically for me, my cricket idol is AB De Villiers and I look at him very closely and his performances in Test cricket and T20 as well and that's why I also try to play according to the demand of the team.

"In T20 cricket, sometimes you can go with slow strike rate because sometimes in T20 you are in a position where they (opposition) are looking to take wickets. You can go slow (when you've lost a couple of wickets) but when the team needs you to hit the long ball, you can go with the momentum. For me, assessing the time is important (when to break free) and thankfully, most of the time, I am successful."

 

[Rana]

What is the need to disclose this nonsense?

Who hires anchors to open in T20?

So he admits that he anchors and doesn’t take the game head on for Pakistan!?!?!

 

[Suleiman]

Yes but in team Pakistan we only need 1 anchor. You, Babar and Shan are fulfilling the same role which then requires bowling all rounders like Nawaz and Shadab to carry us to big scores. If they don’t come off then we won’t even reach 160. It’s not fair to expect them to bat like SKY, Butler, Phillips because that’s not their role ultimately.

This is also why Iftikhar is so high value now too. In that top 4 he’s the only one with the potential to hit out.

You batted at a solid SR till 2021, not sure what’s happened since. Forget SR even, but your intent was positive back then.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Is he capable of playing the enforcer role?

 

[Saj]

Seems to be suggesting that he just follows instructions given to him?

 

[ex-q-zit]

Question is do we need an anchor in a 20 over game? If the anchor ends up facing 60 balls and scores 80-90 runs pakistan with its batting resources would not reach 200 9 out of 10 times. Also if he is thr anchor then what is the role of Babar?

 

[Rana]

Seems to be suggesting that he just follows instructions given to him?

No.

He is openly declaring this is how he is going to play from now on (to mask his inability to play any other way)

 

[Rana]

How is it difficult to play an anchor role in T20s?

 

[Rana]

“The number two T20I batter added that he chose to travel the path of anchoring the innings due to the fact he is well aware he can accelerate the run rate at the later part of the innings“

No he can’t

He is a fraud

 

[topspin]

Question is do we need an anchor in a 20 over game? If the anchor ends up facing 60 balls and scores 80-90 runs pakistan with its batting resources would not reach 200 9 out of 10 times. Also if he is thr anchor then what is the role of Babar?

How is it difficult to play an anchor role in T20s?

Goes to show, Pakistan's mindset hasn't moved on from 2009 template in how to play T20Is.

Anchor role in the shortest format is a thing of the past.

 

[Kroll]

What hogwash is this? Anchors in T20? Don't make me laugh, I reckon Rizwan is feeling the heat for his go slow approach and is just making up excuses now.

 

[hitthestump]

Question is do we need an anchor in a 20 over game? If the anchor ends up facing 60 balls and scores 80-90 runs pakistan with its batting resources would not reach 200 9 out of 10 times. Also if he is thr anchor then what is the role of Babar?

The question will be answered if you look at the averages and strikes rates of the rest of the team.

Alternatively just look at the clowns we had to pick in the T20 world cups and Asia Cup. Batting is a joke in Pakistan right now.

Yet we competed in a final, semi final and final respectively with this anchor-led approach. This is a clear overperformance for a mediocre cricketing nation like Pakistan.

 

[Rana]

This liar failed 6/7 games in the World Cup and made no difference whether he anchored or not

Absolute horse….

 

[Rana]

What hogwash is this? Anchors in T20? Don't make me laugh, I reckon Rizwan is feeling the heat for his go slow approach and is just making up excuses now.

Steve Smith scored 2 hundreds straight away as an opener. The guy is one of the biggest cons in world history of sport!

 

[Rana]

He plays for himself

He plays for his stats

He doesn’t get out in T20 but he doesn’t know how to survive on roads in Test. He’s not purposely anchoring!

 

[pakistani pride]

What a stupid statement from him.
Seriously.

 

[Ab Fan]

Babar Azam 's idol - AB de Villiers
Mohammad Rizwan's idol - AB de Villiers
Most loved overseas player in India of all-time -AB de Villiers

All hail the legend, AB de Villiers!

 

[Rana]

Is he capable of playing the enforcer role?

Yeah in his local park league maybe

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I think if you were to make Iftikhar opener he would have better stats than Rizwan.

His style of batting worked for a short period of time and then got exposed.

I dont really mind that. In sport the opposition catches onto your weaknesses and then puts you on the backfoot.

What I dont like is that instead of adapting and improving he has instead chose to double down on a flawed strategy.

 

[bilawal666]

What a load of nonsense.

 

[Markhor]

Accumulating runs at a low SR as a T20 opener and letting others take the risks of hitting boundaries doesn't sound like a difficult gig to me.

 

[daytrader]

He's spot on. If an anchor is successful in their role it only sets up the finishers to go berserk. It's a team game after all

 

[daytrader]

Steve Smith scored 2 hundreds straight away as an opener. The guy is one of the biggest cons in world history of sport!

Steven Smith scored in a domestic T20 league, T20Is are the real deal. And in those, Rizwan is miles ahead of Steve Smith. Numbers can't con

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Steve Smith scored in a domestic T20 league, T20Is are the real deal. And in those, Rizwan is miles ahead of Steve Smith. Numbers can't con

If Steve Smith is given the job of anchor, he would do the same if not better than Rizwan
Unfortuately, he is told to hit out and not anchor the innings.

 

[WengerOut]

I might have switched off my TV everytime before Rizwan turned the ABDV mode on at the later part of his innings. Arghh..

 

[JibranAnsari]

So babar goes at 120 and rizwan goes at 120. Who is the anchor?

You cant have two anchors opening the innings in t20.

Btw you look at how rizwan bats ,half of his shots are not even timed.

 

[Major]

This liar failed 6/7 games in the World Cup and made no difference whether he anchored or not

Absolute horse….

where did he lie?

 

[zaidihusain]

He's spot on. If an anchor is successful in their role it only sets up the finishers to go berserk. It's a team game after all

There is no concept of anchor & finisher in 20 over game. What do you expect from finishers in last 3-4 overs in T20 when there is no power play? Players like Rizwan plays maiden over and lots of dot balls in first 15 overs and then expects lower middle order to score @15-20 in every over. In the end there is always a hit or miss situation and there is no guarenatee of success. Please understand the real purpose of powerplay, why it is intorduced and what is expected from top order batnsman in powerplay

 

[SamNJ]

Tabish Hashmi can be better anchor.

 

[Duckworth Lewis]

He is masking his inability with statements like this.

 

[Rana]

Steven Smith scored in a domestic T20 league, T20Is are the real deal. And in those, Rizwan is miles ahead of Steve Smith. Numbers can't con

Oh yes

Matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa B are the real deal

We all saw what happened in the World Cup

 

[TheSultan]

Babar Azam 's idol - AB de Villiers
Mohammad Rizwan's idol - AB de Villiers
Most loved overseas player in India of all-time -AB de Villiers

All hail the legend, AB de Villiers!

Except, neither of them ever implemented anything ABDV did neither in approach or ability. In fact if you had to pick two players who were the most anti AB in approach, it would be these two

 

[RyanRyan10]

Rizwan is the most polarizing figure in Pakistan Cricket after Misbah

 

[Hawkeye]

“The number two T20I batter added that he chose to travel the path of anchoring the innings due to the fact he is well aware he can accelerate the run rate at the later part of the innings“

No he can’t

He is a fraud

Spot on.

RIZWAN doesn’t even have the ability to change gears.

 

[Snowflake]

That literally is the easiest thing to do in T20s lol

 

[Pakhs]

Basically what he is saying that he assumes if he is picked in the team its to play anchor role. Not his fault as long as that is clearly been asked of him.

On a separate note we do not need to anchors at the top its too many. However we need to be careful two anchors is better than to tullas who is going to average 10-15 runs. We been getting into deep end of tournaments with two anchors however to win it we will need some more Butler type players. I repeat not tullas.

 

[Rana]

Beautiful

Out for 3 off 7 in the process of playing an anchor masterclass for Comilla

 

[Master Blaster]

So he is declaring the most easiest stats padding formula, which he himself religiously follows, as the most difficult job to do in T20.
It's not him who loves to implement this easy stats padding yet sometimes embarrassing formula but he is commanded by the ones who hire him. Will be very interesting to know the kind of people who hire him to play such kind of knocks.

Very cleverly done...

 

[Mamoon]

Babar & Rizwan have been fooling the world into thinking that they are top openers in the T20 format.

As I have said before, if you give the likes of Smith, Kohli, Root & Williamson this role, they would do a better job than Babar & Rizwan.

Smith is making a mockery of them in the BBL this season.

Both Babar & Rizwan are nothing players in this format & if Rizwan thinks he is asked to play the anchor role & it is not his wish, he should prove it by playing the aggressor role in PSL.

He is the captain of his team. There is no one above him to force him to play in anchor role. He should put his money where his mouth is but I am sure he won’t.

 

[Saj]

Anchor in T20 cricket?

Mention that word to an English batter or Australian or Indian they would laugh at you.

 

[Concerned]

Anchor is worthwhile if they can accelerate. Worryingly, the whole of Pakistan top order Imam, Shan, Babar, Abdullah, and Rizwan lack this ability and at best will take you to par scores.

 

[TheSultan]

Sounds like a very defensive interview.

Anchor role in a t20. Only our players could come out with that absurdity

 

[ArabKnight]

Rizwan acknowledges that his batting is embarrassing.

Now if he can withdraw from the game and go back to domestic.

 

[hitthestump]

Anchor in T20 cricket?

Mention that word to an English batter or Australian or Indian they would laugh at you.

No need.

They laugh hard enough everytime Haider Ali, Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah, Azam Khan, Shan Masood and everyone else we've picked in the last 2 years comes out to bat.

They might not play the same way as Rizwan but he and Babar are certainly one of the few batsmen in the side who are respected internationally. Only our own fans seem to have a problem with them.

 

[gazza619]

Rizwan is indeed doing a tough job. Not many guys out there who have the same skill.

 

[Rana]

Rizwan is indeed doing a tough job. Not many guys out there who have the same skill.

Very tough maintaining a 110 sr in a T20 power play

 

[TheSultan]

No need.

They laugh hard enough everytime Haider Ali, Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah, Azam Khan, Shan Masood and everyone else we've picked in the last 2 years comes out to bat.

They might not play the same way as Rizwan but he and Babar are certainly one of the few batsmen in the side who are respected internationally. Only our own fans seem to have a problem with them.

I really don’t think anyone respects their 20 over game. The opposition are probably happy to keep them at the crease.

 

[Saj]

No need.

They laugh hard enough everytime Haider Ali, Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah, Azam Khan, Shan Masood and everyone else we've picked in the last 2 years comes out to bat.

They might not play the same way as Rizwan but he and Babar are certainly one of the few batsmen in the side who are respected internationally. Only our own fans seem to have a problem with them.

No doubt Rizwan is one of the better players but what is this anchor nonsense. It's 20 overs, you have 10 wickets in hand - what's better 160 all out or 140/3.

 

[Ami]

Rana ji having a field day.
Posing questions then answering humself...lol

 

[Rana]

Rana ji having a field day.
Posing questions then answering humself...lol

I love how Rizwan’s fans are anchoring my barrage of Short balls at Rizwan’s logic

 

[Rana]

He couldn’t anchor today and his team scored 160+ on a pretty good track for bowlers

So what exactly is he on about?

 

[Mamoon]

No T20 team in the world, international or franchise, needs Rizwan.

 

[TheSultan]

The more he plays in these leagues the more people will realise what a liability he is. People who don’t follow Pakistan closely will look at his ranking and think he’s useful.

I say let him play every league, get demoralised and either learn to have some guts or retire from the format

 

[jnaveen1980]

Checked Rizwan's biggest overs in T20I

24 runs vs Namibia , bowler - Smit over no.20
20 runs vs zimbabwe bowler - Ngarava over no.20
19 runs vs south africa bowler - Junioar dala over no.11

Rest are 14 or below

 

[Rana]

Both Babar & Rizwan are nothing players in this format & if Rizwan thinks he is asked to play the anchor role & it is not his wish, he should prove it by playing the aggressor role in PSL.

He is the captain of his team. There is no one above him to force him to play in anchor role. He should put his money where his mouth is but I am sure he won’t.

The thing is [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] , I think he almost certainly will play exactly in his useless 100-120 sr fashion playing the way he always does but now he will mask it with the excuse of ‘anchoring’ for his team. He’s going to use the ICC article as well for his defence.

PCB chairman and selectors need to rise above this and call his B.S by ‘resting him’ for the 8 T20is straight after the PSL

You can hear it from me here first. Rizwan most likely will have an average close to 50 with a strike rate of 125 on the flattest roads of Pindi, Karachi, Multan and Lahore in this PSL. He won’t score a hundred. Plenty of 50 ball 70s whilst the proper batsmen in his team will be eying 40 ball tons on the same roads even after they are given a 100 run in 13 over start by their so called anchor

Muhammad Harris, Saim Ayub, Sharjeel Khan, Fakhar Zaman will be the Pakistani openers who will average around 30 with sr’s above 140. These are your proper openers, the players who need to be looked at to utilise the powerplay

But PCB (pre Sethi 2023) had completely lost the plot! Unbelievable

 

[Kroll]

No T20 team in the world, international or franchise, needs Rizwan.

Sad but true, don’t think he could make 12th man either.

He’d be cramping up and falling over while bringing on the drinks and towels.

 

[gazza619]

No T20 team in the world, international or franchise, needs Rizwan.

The franchise owners think otherwise. He is a hot commodity.

ICC also acknowledge his importance.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Power play performances by Anchors from other teams

Name	Balls	Runs	SR	Dism	Avge	4s	6s
Babar Azam	1071	1247	116.43	33	37.78	178	4
Md Rizwan	930	1064	114.40	18	59.11	119	29
Rohit	1393	1870	134.24	57	32.80	211	84
Jos Buttler	594	882	148.48	19	46.42	109	32

 

[gazza619]

Power play performances by Anchors from other teams

Name	Balls	Runs	SR	Dism	Avge	4s	6s
Babar Azam	1071	1247	116.43	33	37.78	178	4
Md Rizwan	930	1064	114.40	18	59.11	119	29
Rohit	1393	1870	134.24	57	32.80	211	84
Jos Buttler	594	882	148.48	19	46.42	109	32

Pointless comparison. If Rohit or Buttler get out early trying to strike at 150, they have enough fire power to recover. Pakistan’s tail starts at number 5/6.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Pointless comparison. If Rohit or Buttler get out early trying to strike at 150, they have enough fire power to recover. Pakistan’s tail starts at number 5/6.

Even against Namibia?
Power play against Namibia
Babar 21(19)
Rizwa 8(17)

 

[gazza619]

Even against Namibia?
Power play against Namibia
Babar 21(19)
Rizwa 8(17)

Yes our tail starts early even against Namibia.

 

[hitthestump]

No doubt Rizwan is one of the better players but what is this anchor nonsense. It's 20 overs, you have 10 wickets in hand - what's better 160 all out or 140/3.

I believe it's more of a case of realising that right now we are not a 180+ team on most surfaces, so if we try and then fall for around 120-130 we're out of the game more often than not.

Instead the 'anchor' tries to ensure that we reach 160 consistently which our bowling has shown to have a very good chance of defending.

Whatever anyone says about the approach the overall results of the team have been pretty good. Especially for a nation which is deeply mediocre in terms of overall talent. There are no Klusener's and Gayle's being left high and dry by this approach - just Nawaz's and Khushdil's.

 

[hitthestump]

Pointless comparison. If Rohit or Buttler get out early trying to strike at 150, they have enough fire power to recover. Pakistan’s tail starts at number 5/6.

Not just that, it's wrong to think that any Pakistan batsman in history can be compared to Rohit, let alone Buttler

The fact that Babar and Rizwan have even been mentioned in the same breath as those two says a lot. You literally couldn't do it for anyone else in the whole nation.

 

[gazza619]

Not just that, it's wrong to think that any Pakistan batsman in history can be compared to Rohit, let alone Buttler

The fact that Babar and Rizwan have even been mentioned in the same breath as those two says a lot. You literally couldn't do it for anyone else in the whole nation.

Overall our fans are a thankless bunch I guess.

 

[Rana]

Not just that, it's wrong to think that any Pakistan batsman in history can be compared to Rohit, let alone Buttler

The fact that Babar and Rizwan have even been mentioned in the same breath as those two says a lot. You literally couldn't do it for anyone else in the whole nation.

But it’s fans like you who have to keep comparing Rizwan to Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt in order to make him look like Pakistan’s GOAT though?

 

[Rana]

The franchise owners think otherwise. He is a hot commodity.

ICC also acknowledge his importance.

Revisit the 2020 PSL auction and check your hot commodity lol

 

[TeamPak95]

I believe it's more of a case of realising that right now we are not a 180+ team on most surfaces, so if we try and then fall for around 120-130 we're out of the game more often than not.

Instead the 'anchor' tries to ensure that we reach 160 consistently which our bowling has shown to have a very good chance of defending.

Whatever anyone says about the approach the overall results of the team have been pretty good. Especially for a nation which is deeply mediocre in terms of overall talent. There are no Klusener's and Gayle's being left high and dry by this approach - just Nawaz's and Khushdil's.

It's hilarious how polarizing Mohammad Rizwan is on this forum. He's either a messiah or a villain.

The way I look at it is that despite the glaring flaws of Pakistan's t20 batting approach, it still resulted in WT20 2021 semis, Asia Cup 2022 final, and WT20 2022 final. This tells me that Pakistan, to an extent, are doing something right and don't really need to make insane wholesale changes but need to make tweaks to their batting. Rizwan needs to open with a Fakhar type player with Babar at 3 to utilize the opening PP better (at least on paper that should be the approach). They refuse to do this and are too much into the mode of 'don't fix what ain't broke' mentality even though it's safe to say that it is in fact broke.

At the same time, like you said, there are no Gayle's being left high and dry here. Folks keep calling for Saim Ayub into the team (who does look very talented) not learning from the Haider Ali situation. From my end, I just want Pakistan to make the most out of what they have via proper utilization and groom up-and-coming players through domestics/FC so that they are properly ready for international cricket in general.

 

[Cric1234]

Pointless comparison. If Rohit or Buttler get out early trying to strike at 150, they have enough fire power to recover. Pakistan’s tail starts at number 5/6.

Baseless post going on a pre conceived notion and not actual results the only reason Pakistan won the tri series final against New Zealand and got through the group stages of the World Cup was because of the middle order.

Babar and Rizwan looking like world beaters against Magala Linde and Williams made fans genuinely believe they were the number 1 and 2 ranked batsmen only for them to fail in 90% of the important matches in tournaments with the middle order having a higher success rate.

 

[giri26]

Mohammad Rizwan's T20 record in 2022 needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. While his overall SR of 122 is poor, his SR against good teams is worse.

Except for England against who he has struck at 136, look at his SR's below:

Australia - 121
India - 112
New Zealand - 109
SA - 100
SL - 109

So basically he bats at a SR of just over a run a ball against good sides. Can't believe he makes any best XI for the year 2022.

 

[Markhor]

Baseless post going on a pre conceived notion and not actual results the only reason Pakistan won the tri series final against New Zealand and got through the group stages of the World Cup was because of the middle order.

Babar and Rizwan looking like world beaters against Magala Linde and Williams made fans genuinely believe they were the number 1 and 2 ranked batsmen only for them to fail in 90% of the important matches in tournaments with the middle order having a higher success rate.

Exactly ! Maybe it's the sheer volume of T20s we play, but our fans seem to suffer from amnesia.

The much maligned middle-order have also saved us in important matches. Nawaz played a crucial innings vs India in the Asia Cup. He helped chase a 170+ total vs Bangladesh in the NZL tri-series (after Babar and Rizwan did their usual statpadding exercise striking at barely over 100). It was Nawaz, Haider and Iftikhar who won us the Final of that tournament.

It was Mohammad Haris and Shadab Khan who kept us in the World Cup with their knocks vs South Africa. It was Haris and Shan Masood who got us over the line vs Bangladesh in our final group match.

Let's stop pretending Babar and Rizwan have no support whatsoever because it's simply untrue. It's another excuse to defend their outdated style of T20 batting.

 

[Buffet]

Anchor for 120 balls?

 

[Rana]

Anchor for 120 balls?

If he doesn’t do it, his team will be 70 all out

 

[Buffet]

If he doesn’t do it, his team will be 70 all out

lol, I am not sure why anyone will think so.

I recall plenty of times where Pakistan did better when Babar/Rizwan scored very little. This fear of being 70 all out does not stand up well when you look at actual outcomes. It's not easy to lose 10 wickets in 120 balls even if you are 2 down for 20-30 runs. In fact , others played well to win games more often.

I can see merit of anchor if pitch is minefield, but that's not the case in pretty much any T-20.

 

[Hawkeye]

The franchise owners think otherwise. He is a hot commodity.

ICC also acknowledge his importance.

I think you're quite mistaken.

Nobody has enough time to watch him play, his agents pitch him as no.1 or no.2 ranked ICC batter. The franchises go gaga, thinking he might be another Surya.

He, on the other hand, is truly the worst T20 batter in the world right now. Those that play between 1 and 5 position.

There's no worse opener out there, neither number 3 or 4.

 

[Hawkeye]

Even against Namibia?
Power play against Namibia
Babar 21(19)
Rizwa 8(17)

Mohammad Rizwan's T20 record in 2022 needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. While his overall SR of 122 is poor, his SR against good teams is worse.

Except for England against who he has struck at 136, look at his SR's below:

Australia - 121
India - 112
New Zealand - 109
SA - 100
SL - 109

So basically he bats at a SR of just over a run a ball against good sides. Can't believe he makes any best XI for the year 2022.

Truly the worst T20 batsman in the world right now.

There's no worse opener than him.

He doesn't play at 3 or 4, but there's nobody worse than him there either.

He's portraying as if he's "forced" by the management to play at a slow SR. Which is truly hilarious and absolutely false.

He's even the freaking VC and a friend of Babar's.
People really think he can be "forced" to play an "anchor" role? )

OK

I dare him to play like a proper T20 batter at the PSL, where he's the skipper.

 

[zaidihusain]

It's hilarious how polarizing Mohammad Rizwan is on this forum. He's either a messiah or a villain.

The way I look at it is that despite the glaring flaws of Pakistan's t20 batting approach, it still resulted in WT20 2021 semis, Asia Cup 2022 final, and WT20 2022 final. This tells me that Pakistan, to an extent, are doing something right and don't really need to make insane wholesale changes but need to make tweaks to their batting. Rizwan needs to open with a Fakhar type player with Babar at 3 to utilize the opening PP better (at least on paper that should be the approach). They refuse to do this and are too much into the mode of 'don't fix what ain't broke' mentality even though it's safe to say that it is in fact broke.

At the same time, like you said, there are no Gayle's being left high and dry here. Folks keep calling for Saim Ayub into the team (who does look very talented) not learning from the Haider Ali situation. From my end, I just want Pakistan to make the most out of what they have via proper utilization and groom up-and-coming players through domestics/FC so that they are properly ready for international cricket in general.

Whatever success Pakistan had in T20 WC 2021, Asia Cup 2022 & T20 WC 2022 was not because of Rizwan & Babar. Infact these 2 mainly failed on almost every key occasion.

In T20 WC 2021, Pakistan qualified for Semi Final because of Asif Ali & Shoaib Malik's performance against New Zealand & Afghanistan and some superior bowling. Rizwan & Babar did chased a moderate target against India but against New Zealand, Rizwan scored 33(34) & Baber scored 9(11). Against Afghanistan Rizwan scored 8(10) and Baber scored 51(47). Pakistan lost semi final because Rizwan & Babar played too slow and wasted lots of deliveries.

Pak qualified for Asia Cup 2022 final because of Nawaz's performance against India & Naseem Shah's 2 sixes against Afghanistan in Super 4 match. Babar & Rizwan badly failed in final

Pak qualified for T20 WC 2022 final because of Iftelikhar, Harris, Shadab & Nawaz's performance against SA and then SA choked against Netherlands. Babar & Rizwan failed again in final

 

[topspin]

Truly the worst T20 batsman in the world right now.

There's no worse opener than him.

He doesn't play at 3 or 4, but there's nobody worse than him there either.

He's portraying as if he's "forced" by the management to play at a slow SR. Which is truly hilarious and absolutely false.

He's even the freaking VC and a friend of Babar's.
People really think he can be "forced" to play an "anchor" role? )

OK

I dare him to play like a proper T20 batter at the PSL, where he's the skipper.

Fully agree. The guy is a fraud and wouldn't make any of the top 4 or 5 international sides in the shortest format.

Pakistan have always produced rubbish batsmen out of their wicketkeepers, it just happens to be that he's the best gloveman in the country which is the sole reason for why he's managed to cement his place in the side.

Rizwan's ODI average is a true reflection of his skills with the bat in white ball cricket.

 

[gazza619]

If he doesn’t do it, his team will be 70 all out

I am glad we finally agree.

 

[Rana]

Fully agree. The guy is a fraud and wouldn't make any of the top 4 or 5 international sides in the shortest format.

Pakistan have always produced rubbish batsmen out of their wicketkeepers, it just happens to be that he's the best gloveman in the country which is the sole reason for why he's managed to cement his place in the side.

Rizwan's ODI average is a true reflection of his skills with the bat in white ball cricket.

Have you ever wondered how this guy manages to bat through T20 without getting out or getting out in the 16th/17th over but is clueless on how to survive in Test cricket (on Pakistani roads) especially when his team doesn’t mind if he bats for as long as possible and at whatever pace he likes?

Something just doesn’t add up

 

[topspin]

Have you ever wondered how this guy manages to bat through T20 without getting out or getting out in the 16th/17th over but is clueless on how to survive in Test cricket (on Pakistani roads) especially when his team doesn’t mind if he bats for as long as possible and at whatever pace he likes?

Something just doesn’t add up

In T20s, the opposition just want to stop him from scoring runs which is easy to do because everyone knows he can't score on the offside to save his life so they just bowl it wider outside his off stump.

In Tests, the opposition are trying to get him out so instead they pitch it just outside the off stump but Rizwan tries to be too smart so ends up finding innovative and comical ways to get out.

What annoys me is ICC are giving him awards and naming him in the team of the year because what kind of message does that send to aspiring cricketers in Pakistan? - that Rizwan is the gold standard of batting in white ball cricket. It's a complete joke.