POTW : Titan24

[MenInG]

The Mohammad Rizwan suitability for T20I cricket has been a big source of discussion on PP but this post is an excellent and articulate explanation of why we should not really be surprised about the Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman's rise in international rankings.

Congratulations to [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]



http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...the-ICC-T20-World-Cup&p=11247088#post11247088

So I will try to clear some of the air around. As its not just the OP rather many Pak fans in PP and outside are in disbelief and dont think its possible what Rizwan has done as they only remember a young struggling keeper in his early days.

People who have only seen Rizwan during his early international days might have been surprised by what he has achieved in last 1.5 years or so years but, anyone who has seen him through last decade and have taken a look at his domestic numbers, Pak A performances and emerging team performances might not be much surprised. The only surprise is a great domestic performer was able transition well to international cricket as its not common in Pak.

Mohammad Rizwan's exceptional keeping skills aside, he is one of the best domestic batsman overall produced by Pakistan in the last decade or so.

He was first selected in Pak team in 2012 for ODI series in WI and that was as a batsman/backup keeper. At that time Pak selectors were keenly looking at domestic numbers and Rizwan had outstanding stats even back then. Stats aside, you dont get selected for the national team at 19-20 years of age if you dont have noticeable raw skills. Thats another matter he couldnt debut back then. He played in Pak team during Sarfaraz's captaincy as well, purely as a batsman so his batting ability outside of his stats as well was well known in the circles.

Rizwan averages around 45-46 in FC cricket (Excluding test cricket) and almost 50 in list A cricket (Excluding ODIs). These are great numbers which manifest that he is a pretty good batsman as a whole who has adapted to international cricket well too in last few years. He was the best young middle order batsman in the 2014-15 Pentangular One Day Cup, scoring 3rd most number of runs with 2 100s and a 50 in 5 matches making his team champion by scoring 103* in 87 balls in the final.

Yes if he would have been an average domestic batsman, one could have possibly called him over rated, fluke or whatever but his domestic stats show he is an accomplished batsman and what he is doing at international level is a transformation of a player from one level to another and Rizwan has done it pretty well in last few years with the help from Pak A and emerging team tours.

Coming to his T20 from and numbers. If we take out his extraordinary T20I average of 44 out, he still averages around mid 30s in domestic T20 cricket. Yes his career SR of 123 in domestic T20 cricket isnt extraordinary however, he mentioned in National T20 Cup 2020 that how he was working on his power game (Razzaq being his head coach would have helped as well). Result has been his SR of 141 in T20I in last year or so. Is it really that big of a surprise that someone who had good basics worked hard on his game and improved his shot making ability?

Yes one can argue if he can maintain the extraordinary form as an opener in T20s with the impressive SR. However, calling it a bubble or fluke is just lack of information of his growth, numbers and transition. Yes like any international batsman he will have bad seasons as well but, none of those seasons in isolation would be able to define him.

Should he open the batting in whiteball cricket is a completely different debate but, calling what he as achieved a bubble, fluke is ignorance along with lack of information.

 

[King_Kohli]

congrats bro [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]

 

[street cricketer]

Congratulations [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]

 

[Gullycricket]

Congratulations [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]. One of most level headed poster here

 

[Mamoon]

Well deserved.

Titan24 is an excellent poster. Makes very good points and is always respectful.

Keep it up.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Congrats! Good post

 

[Rajdeep]

Top poster...congrats [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]

 

[PakPremi]

One of my favourite poster who never lets emotions get in the way of his writing. Writes in a calm manner when ever Pakistan are losing or winning, never going over board. I almost always agree with his point. Carry on good work [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION].

 

[shaz619]

Great stuff, agree on all points. I rate Riswan but wasn’t aware he had such good stats, just shows its important to invest in FC performers who have done well there

 

[Titan24]

Honoured.

congrats bro [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]

Congratulations [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]

Congratulations [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]. One of most level headed poster here

Well deserved.

Titan24 is an excellent poster. Makes very good points and is always respectful.

Keep it up.

Congrats! Good post

Top poster...congrats [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]

One of my favourite poster who never lets emotions get in the way of his writing. Writes in a calm manner when ever Pakistan are losing or winning, never going over board. I almost always agree with his point. Carry on good work [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION].

Great stuff, agree on all points. I rate Riswan but wasn’t aware he had such good stats, just shows its important to invest in FC performers who have done well there

Thanks a lot guys for your comments, really appreciate it.

 

[OMB]

Congrats [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]. very informative and well written post

 

[gazza619]

Great post and I couldn't agree more. In my view Rizwan is on the verge of greatness.

What concerns me is the fact that he has so many haters who would want to eat him alive when he loses form temporarily.

 

[Ahmed216]

Congrats [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]
Excellent poster one of my favourites

 

[OmarKhan99]

Excellent post as always! Congrats [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]

 

[Savak]

A very well explained post

 

[MenInG]

A real pleasure to have [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION] on this forum

 

[UzmanBeast]

Congratulations [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]!

Really good post, well worth the read.

 

[Ashmal]

Great post...well deserved

 

[Smbhayi]

Congrats [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]

 

[Titan24]

Thanks a lot everyone for your kind words.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Congrats. Good post.

Also he opened with Rafatullah Mohammand with success for Peshawar Panthers during 2014 national t20 cup which they won for the first time. The tournament that brought Iftikhar Ahmed's first call up to the team as well.

 

[sweep_shot]

Congratulations, Titan24. Always a pleasure reading your posts.