Mohammad Rizwan recalls Ramiz Raja's appeal to Pakistan cricket in 2021

Pakistan's wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has delved into the intense pressure and significance of facing India whenever these two teams collide against each other in the mega-event tournaments.

The 32-year-old recalled what Ramiz said before the 2021 T20 World Cup match against India.

Speaking at an event in the USA ahead of Pakistan's upcoming clash with co-host USA in the 2024 T20 World Cup on June 06, Rizwan provided valuable insights into the significant contribution of Ramiz Raja, who served as the PCB chairman at that time.

“We had never beaten India before that (in a World Cup). Ramiz Raja met us and said, you have to beat India. There was a long time to go for the World Cup when he first came in (as PCB chairman) but he had started developing this thought in the team from right then," Rizwan said.

"As we got closer to the World Cup he said, regardless of whether you win the trophy or not, just don't lose to India. He used to say don't come under pressure, and then would put pressure on us,” he added.

Reflecting on the intense India-Pakistan rivalry, Rizwan acknowledged the unique pressure and attention these matches attract.

“India vs Pakistan always comes with pressure. People may not watch all matches in a tournament but this is a game everyone sits down to watch, regardless of which country they belong to. At the time we had Matthew Hayden with us. He put his arms around me and the captain and asked how we are feeling. The captain said that we have worked hard and now we leave it all in the hands of God," he said.

The right-hand batter also shared anecdotes of the overwhelming support he received post-match, highlighting how the victory resonated deeply with the Pakistani community.

“For me it was all a first, whether it be playing in a World Cup or in such a big match. So I was feeling quite normal, I didn't think this was any different from any other match. But when we won, that is when I realised what we achieved. In Pakistan, say I go for shopping somewhere, people won't take money. Then I stopped going out for shopping because they just weren't taking money from us, they were all commending us for beating India. Everyone I met was commending us for the win. Once when I went to someone's room they had the match playing on television and said that they watch it everyday,” he concluded.