Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed, stalwarts of the Pakistan cricket team, are under scrutiny again.
Following Pakistan’s early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup group stage, calls for team changes have intensified. However, no major adjustments seem imminent.
A video on Instagram @dbtvsports shows Rizwan and Iftikhar struggling against Pakistani net bowler Nouman Khan Khaira, not the renowned Shaheen Shah Afridi or Naseem Shah.
The footage has quickly gone viral, showcasing Rizwan and Iftikhar repeatedly faltering against Khaira’s pace and bounce. Social media users have been critical, with one suggesting, “These local boys should be in the Pakistani team, and those currently playing should be rested.”
Although Pakistan’s second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, Rizwan only managed a strike rate of 90 and notably failed to secure a win against India when set for a chase. Meanwhile, after scoring 23 runs across two matches, Iftikhar was dropped from the playing XI.
Despite these disappointments, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has indicated a “major surgery” might be necessary, although significant changes are unlikely soon to avoid conflicts with senior players. This cautious approach follows Pakistan’s defeats to co-host USA and India, which stirred widespread criticism of the team, including captain Babar Azam.
