Usko Allah khair de: Mohammad Rizwan responds to question on critics targeting him over his strike-rate

The Pakistan cricket team, under Babar Azam, has grown leaps and bounds. But, heading into the T20 World Cup 2022, the team's approach in T20Is has been questioned. Fingers have been raised over skipper Babar as well as his opening partner Mohammad Rizwan over their strike-rate.

After the first T20I against England on Tuesday, Rizwan was asked about his reaction to what critics have been saying about his strike-rate. Rizwan gave a humble response, saying whosoever is saying such things, may god bless him.

“Dekho, mujhe toh nahi pata kaun behes kar raha hai hampe. Mujhe inn cheezo ka nahi pata. Doosri baat, jo bhi hampe behes kar raha hai usko Allah khair de. Kyunki vo sirf hamaare liye nahi, poore Pakistan ke liye soch raha hai. (see, I don't know who is debating about us. This is the first thing. Secondly, even if someone is doing that, may Allah bless him. Because he's not just thinking about me or Babar, he's thinking about the whole Pakistan team),” Rizwan said.

Rizwan also added that if the said person is saying such things out of spite, he will also face dishonour.

“I don't know if it's the former players or the media, but may Allah bless them. But I want to say one thing. To whoever is debating about us, if any of us, the players, is not playing with complete honesty towards Pakistan, he will face dishonour. Whoever is talking about us, if he is doing that out of spite, then he will face dishonour as well. Being honest is our biggest priority,” said Rizwan.

“They are thinking the best about Pakistan, and we are trying our best as well. I also make mistakes, and I try to do better than that. The captain also tries to improve, everyone does,” the wicket-keeper batter stressed.

In the opening T20I against England, Rizwan made 68 off 46 but the match still went in favour of the tourists.