Mohammad Rizwan's Shock Reply As Reporter Compares Pakistan's T20 World Cup Performance With India Pakistan’s cricket team was eliminated from the T20 World Cup in the Super 8 stage after a poor campaign, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) planning penalties for players over their underwhelming performances. However, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan downplayed the team’s exit, attributing it to net run rate (NRR) rather than outright failure. During a nets session, Rizwan engaged in a conversation with a reporter who questioned Pakistan’s performance and compared it to India’s strong showing in the tournament. Rizwan dismissed concerns about the team’s match against Sri Lanka, stating that winning the game was what mattered. “It doesn’t matter. In the end, we won that match, that’s what counts,” he said. When the reporter highlighted India’s dominant semi-final performance against England, Rizwan responded with indifference, claiming he didn’t watch their matches. “Sorry, I don’t watch their matches,” he remarked. Rizwan also criticized the media for shaping public perception of players, suggesting journalists should face penalties for their portrayal. “The players have been fined, but journalists should be fined too,” he said. “You people should also pay the penalty—your situation is no different.” He added that the way players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Salman Ali Agha are viewed depends largely on how the media presents them. The wicketkeeper-batter defended Pakistan’s exit by emphasizing cricket’s unpredictability, citing Zimbabwe’s surprise victory over Australia as an example. “Pakistan went out of the event on net run rate, not because of losing outright,” he said. “Even strong teams can suffer unexpected outcomes.#babar_azam #pakistan_cricket_board #mohammad_rizwan #shaheen_shah_afridi #salman_ali_agh
National T20 Cup 2026: New captain named as Mohammad Rizwan excluded from Peshawar squad Peshawar Region has announced significant changes to its squad for the upcoming National T20 Cup 2026, which will be held at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar from 7 to 18 March. The tournament marks a leadership shift as wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has withdrawn from the competition. All-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed has been appointed as the new captain of the Peshawar side. Rizwan’s absence has been addressed by the inclusion of all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, who will feature in the tournament as his replacement. The squad for Peshawar Region includes Iftikhar Ahmed (captain), Ahmed Hussain (U21), Azam Khan, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Nawaz (guest), Israrullah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Shoaib (U21), Mohammad Imran Jnr, Nabi Gul, Sajid Khan, Usman Tariq, Waqar Ahmed, and Yasir Khan. The team’s opening matches will be against Lahore Whites on 7 March and Karachi Whites on 11 March. Lahore Whites have also strengthened their lineup by adding Pakistan stars Babar Azam and Naseem Shah to their squad. Both players, who were initially absent from the squad announcement, will now play under the captaincy of Aamir Jamal. The team has further bolstered its ranks with the inclusion of Ahmed Daniyal and Mohammad Salman. The tournament will feature 18 regional teams across 23 matches at the Peshawar venue, which previously hosted nine Quaid-e-Azam Trophy fixtures in October and November 2025. The participating teams include Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Karachi Whites, Karachi Blues, Lahore Blues, Lahore Whites, Multan, and Sialkot. The teams have been divided into two groups. Group A consists of Lahore Whites, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Karachi Whites, and Bahawalpur.#peshawar_region #imran_khan_cricket_stadium #lahore_whites #babar_azam #naseem_shah
