Asia Cup 2022: Saqlain Mushtaq Hits Back At Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Akhtar For Criticising Mohammad Rizwan's T20 Batting Approach

Pakistan National Cricket Team head coach Saqlain Mushtaq has come in support of star wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan amid the backlash the No.1 ranked T20I batter is facing for his batting approach in T20 cricket.

On Sunday, September 11, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan lost the Asia Cup 2022 final by 23 runs against Sri Lanka National Cricket Team. The batting unit of Team Pakistan faced heavy criticism after the defeat as the required run rate kept on climbing and the batters were not playing the attacking brand of cricket.

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The No.1 ranked batter in the ICC Men’s T20I Batting Rankings, Mohammad Rizwan, scored a poor 55 runs off 49 balls before being dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga in the 17th over of the match.

After the match, former Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Inzamam-ul-Haq criticised Rizwan for his batting approach.

“Rizwan, 50 off 50 is not going to work anymore. Doesn’t benefit Pakistan,” Akhtar tweeted.

This combination is not working. Pakistan has to look into a lot of things. Fakhar, Iftikhar, Khushdil all need to be looked into. And Rizwan, 50 off 50 is not going to work anymore. Doesn't benefit Pakistan.
Hats off to Sri Lanka. What a team

Full video: https://t.co/rYk3d01K65

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 11, 2022

“Had the 70 runs been scored at a more leisurely rate, the final score would have only been about 140, which Pakistan would have been able to chase down. Therefore, those 70 runs would have been for nothing,” Inzamam said on his YouTube channel.

People observe things from outside and pass their remarks – Saqlain Mushtaq

At a press conference, Pakistan head coach Saqlain was asked about the heavy criticism faced by Rizwan after his knock in the Asia Cup final. Saqlain took an indirect jibe at the “experts” and said that they have no idea about the dressing room environment and added it’s easier to pass remarks from outside.

“Unki soch hai. Jo bahir log baithe hote hai na wo bahir se cheezon ko dekhte hai aur uske upar baat kar dete hai (It’s their thinking, people observe things from outside and pass their remarks on it),” he said.

“It’s not their mistake. They saw the result, and scorecard and made their comments. They have no idea about what is happening inside the dressing room, what the players feel about their confidence and the injuries they are carrying.

“I have worked as an expert for three years. So I know how things work. Once they work closely with the cricketers from inside only then they will get to know about the team bonding, the environment,” he said.

Also Read: Asia Cup 2022: It’s Just Been Bad Luck – Saqlain Mushtaq When Asked About Babar Azam’s Rough Patch

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