T20 World Cup: Rizwan wants to shed ‘unpredictable’ tag off Pakistan
Pakistan opening batsman Mohammad Rizwan said Tuesday that he wants to shed the “unpredictable” tag off Pakistan and make it into a world-beating team.
The wicketkeeper batsman, awarded the Player of the Match award for his stellar 79-run innings against Namibia Tuesday night that saw Pakistan through to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, was speaking at the post-match conference.
“Together, we will make the inconsistent squad a top team in the world,” said Rizwan, answering a reporter’s question.
Rizwan said the Pakistan cricket team had also checked all the boxes as it progresses into the tournament. He said fast bowler Hassan Ali was also performing impressively with the ball after the thrashing he had received in the earlier three matches.
Rizwan said Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez were also now performing well, adding that the team was “checking” all the boxes.
Earlier, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja had also congratulated the team and praised them for being humble while being victorious.
After the victory, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja took to Twitter to say:
“Well done Boys. Just the most magnificent run to the semi -final. You have shown that excellence with humility is the tonic of success,” he tweeted.
Pakistan down Namibia to secure semi-final berth
Number-two ranked Pakistan gave a cricket lesson to Namibia in their maiden meeting on Tuesday as they booked a place in the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
Swashbuckling half-centuries by openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, followed by a 16-ball cameo by Mohammad Hafeez helped the 2009 champions to 189 for two in 20 overs after they had elected to bat first at the Zayed International Stadium in a Group-2 fixture.
In turn, Namibia managed 144 for five with David Wiese using his knowledge about Pakistan bowlers from his Pakistan Super League experience by scoring 43 not out off 31 balls with three fours and two sixes. Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan picked up a wicket each.
The victory was Pakistan’s fourth in a row that confirmed they have become the first side to qualify for the semifinals from Group-2 irrespective of how their 7 November match against Scotland in Sharjah pans out.
Rizwan, later adjudged player of the match, belted eight fours and four sixes in a 50-ball 79 not out to record his second half-century of the tournament and 10th overall as he stitched a 113-run opening partnership with Babar Azam. The captain dominated the stand with a fluent and classy 49-ball 70 punctuated with seven boundaries that gave him his third half-century of the tournament and 23rd of his career.
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