Mohammad Rizwan credits divine help for historic win over South Africa

Pakistan's whiteball captain, Mohammad Rizwan, attributed the team's historic win over South Africa to divine help, saying that records are made with Allah's help.

Speaking at a press conference after the historic victory in Karachi, Rizwan explained that although Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman gave Pakistan a good start, the team had to regroup and plan carefully as wickets fell. 

"Babar and Fakhar gave us a good start, but when the wickets started falling, we had to make a plan," Rizwan said.

He also mentioned that he was focused on the game and did not look at the screen until the 18th over. 

"I wasn't even looking at the screen until the 18th over; we had a plan for every five overs, and it worked," he added.

Rizwan further shared his expectations for Babar Azam, saying, "Like the nation, I always expect Babar to score big runs. There is pressure on Babar too to score runs, but I am hopeful that he will soon make a big score."

Discussing the team's culture and performance, Rizwan acknowledged the lack of consistency and said, "In our culture, inconsistency is part of the game. We never know what will happen tomorrow. We play against Zimbabwe in the same way we play against Australia."

Rizwan also pointed out that the absence of Saim Ayub was a significant loss for the team, saying, "Not having Saim Ayub is a big loss for us. His absence has made a difference."

Regarding Babar Azam's position as an opener, Rizwan stated, "Babar Azam is a very composed player, which is why we decided to send him to open."

Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan’s centuries guided Pakistan to a six-wicket victory over South Africa at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday, securing their place in the Tri-Nation ODI Series final.

Chasing 353, Pakistan reached the target with six balls to spare, thanks to a record-breaking 260-run partnership between Agha (134 off 103 balls) and Rizwan (122* off 128 balls), setting a new record for Pakistan’s highest partnership in an ODI chase.

Pakistan’s chase faltered early with captain Babar Azam (23), Fakhar Zaman (41), and Saud Shakeel (15) falling, leaving the team at 91/3. However, Agha and Rizwan steadied the ship, taking Pakistan home despite Agha’s dismissal in the penultimate over.

South Africa had set a tough target, scoring 352/5 in 50 overs. Bavuma (82) and Breetzke (83) put up strong partnerships, while Klaasen’s 87 off 56 balls lifted the total. Shaheen Shah Afridi (2/66) and Khushdil Shah (1/43) were the pick of the Pakistan bowlers.

With this win, Pakistan advances to the final, aiming to claim the Tri-Nation ODI Series trophy.