After losing PSL final and The Hundred contract, Mohammad Rizwan reveals where he will play for Pakistan's T20 team

Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan, under whose captaincy Multan Sultans recently lost the PSL 9 final, expressed his availability and flexibility to bat anywhere for Pakistan. Rizwan clearly stated that he has no problems appearing anywhere in the batting order and that he is willing to even give up on wicket-keeping if the team management demands that from him.

Mohammad Rizwan made this claim while speaking to Cricket Pakistan recently, after the PSL 9 final at the National Stadium in Karachi earlier this week on Monday. In that interview, Rizwan’s words truly depicted the type of team man he is and also highlighted his willingness to do anything for the welfare of the Green Army. He is set to be an important part of Pakistan when the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 begins from June 1 onwards in the USA and West Indies.

Mohammad Rizwan says he is open to bowling for Pakistan if required

In that exclusive chat, Mohammad Rizwan was first asked to shed light on his openness to bat at number 3 instead of his usual position of an opening batsman. To that, Rizwan said that he never declined the offer and revealed that he told the team management that he was fully available for it.

Then he went on to reveal that he even told the management about his willingness to give up on his glovework and even bowl if required. “I even said that if I am needed for bowling, I am ready for that too, I can even leave my wicket-keeping.” – Rizwan said via Cricket Pakistan outlet.

Mohammad Rizwan then also highlighted the number of positions he has batted in, which speaks volumes about his versatility as well as his thought process for the nation he represents. He highlighted the variety of positions he has batted, from number 7 to number 9, claiming that he cannot refuse to do something good for the team.

“If you look at my career so far, in 26 matches, I have gone to bat at numbers 7, 8, and 9. No batsman has gone in at number 9, I have. I cannot say that I will not do this. I was ready before, and I am still ready now.” – Rizwan added.

Rizwan opens up on his split with opening pair of Babar Azam

Mohammad Rizwan was then asked to talk through about the time his opening partnership with former captain Babar Azam came to an end. This particular move was materialized to give youngster Saim Ayub a chance in the opening slot which saw Babar Azam being pushed down to number 3 during Pakistan’s 5-match T20I series tour of New Zealand in January.

That decision did not serve Pakistan that well as Ayub was not able to get going in any of those matches and it rather hindered their batting order. The visitors had eventually lost the series by 4-1 with Rizwan claiming that he had told the management about something similar happening if he and Babar didn’t open and get Pakistan off to a flyer.

“I was asked that if splitting my opening pair with Babar hurt Pakistan. Maybe I didn’t understand the question at that time, but I said it hurt Pakistan in the context that Pakistan had lost four matches. I did not say that it hurt Pakistan because we were split as an opening pair.” – Mohammad Rizwan concluded.