No other keeper does what Rizwan did for me: Mohammad Haris

Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris is grateful to his state side Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, who allowed him the opportunity to keep wickets towards the later part of the group stage of 2020 National T20 Cup.

While speaking in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, the 19-year-old revealed that he enjoys a good friendship with Pakistan’s Test vice-captain and they train together whenever both are in their hometown Peshawar.

“Whenever I am in Peshawar along with Rizwan bhai, we practice and work together on our keeping and batting. I am grateful to have a friend like Rizwan bhai, who guides me as a senior player. I would like to thank him for giving me an opportunity during National T20 Cup. No other keeper does that. I didn’t deserve a place in the team while he was already there but he still kept me in the squad and gave me a chance to prove myself,” said Haris.

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Rizwan also promoted Haris to open the innings while chasing 145 against Northern in their last group stage match. The young wicketkeeper-batsman played an unbeaten 79-run innings in 70 balls, but failed to take his team over the finish line against a bowling attack, which featured the likes of Mohammad Amir, Sohail Tanvir and Imad Wasim.

“I did gain a lot of confidence [after scoring 79]. But I consumed a lot deliveries during that knock because I couldn’t figure out what to do against such an experienced bowling attack. Hence, we ended up losing that match. I reached my fifty at a good strike-rate but couldn’t connect my shots, later, as I found it difficult against an experienced attack,” he said.

“However, National High Performance Centre coaches and our head coach Abdul Razzaq praised my knock, so I thank them for supporting me during that time,” he added.

On the back of his impressive performances in 2021 Pakistan Cup, Haris got a late call-up to join Peshawar Zalmi’s training camp and serve as their reserve for PSL season six.

“I want to thank Peshawar Zalmi for giving inviting me to their camp. All the senior players including Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal along with our head coach Darren Sammy motivated me a lot. Hashim [Amla] bhai was working on my batting and Kamran bhai was also helping me with my wicketkeeping. Everyone in the Zalmi camp guided me and I am grateful for the opportunity,” he concluded.

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