Rizwan has batted at number five position in both matches of the NZ series
PHOTO: PCB
Mohammad Rizwan is not happy batting at number five position for Pakistan in One-day Internationals (ODIs), and would prefer the number four spot.
While speaking in a press conference on Monday in Karachi, the wicketkeeper-batsman said that he is ready to sacrifice his ideal batting slot for the sake of the team.
"If you ask me honestly, I am not happy batting at number five [in ODIs], because I want to bat at number four. But it is not important that I get what I want. Captain and coach will do what they like. It is my own wish to bat at number four. But I have not complained to anyone. I have been sacrificing for last 15 or 16 years and still not complaining. We are ready to do what captain and coach asks us to do," Rizwan said.
Mohammad Rizwan is not happy batting at number five in ODIs
— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) May 1, 2023
'I am not happy. I would prefer batting at number four, but I am ready to sacrifice for the sake of the team. I have to listen to coach and captain Babar Azam'
Video courtesy: Pakistan Cricket Board#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/fhmkzEdFfT
Rizwan also opened up about personal milestones and whether he asked Imad to take a single in the final over of Pakistan’s innings during last T20I against New Zealand.
Rizwan fell short of his century by two runs and Pakistan went onto lose the game. Pakistan batters were criticized by fans and former cricketers for prioritizing Rizwan’s century over scoring additional runs for the team.
"We came out from a phase where we were 50-3. The message we got from the dressing was that something around 180 would be good on this pitch. So, our discussion was to score runs accordingly," he revealed.
"There was no conversation about taking a single. When we were near 190, Imad said it was good enough on this pitch and that's why he went for a single there," he said. "Had we won, no one would have crticised us. Still, we accept that it was our mistake and the criticism is on point."
Mohammad Rizwan opens up about personal milestones and why Imad Wasim tried to take a single in the T20I series to let the wicketkeeper-batsman complete his century
— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) May 1, 2023
Video courtesy: Pakistan Cricket Board #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/kya1l34dlR
Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif also recently shared his thoughts on Pakistan's ideal batter for the number four position in ODI cricket. According to Latif, the wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is the best player for the role.
"Best batter at No. 4 Mohammad Rizwan #PAKvNZ excellent batting back to back centuries by Fakhar and Mitchell, congratulations 👏 Congratulations Team Pakistan," Latif wrote in a Twitter post.
Rizwan has batted at number five position in both matches of the NZ series and have played unbeaten knocks to guide the team to victory. After his unbeaten 42-run knock from 34 balls in first match, Rizwan continued his rich vein of form and played a blistering 54-run innings from 41 deliveries.
However, Rizwan’s record at number four is definitely impressive, with the wicketkeeper-batsman scoring 742 runs in 20 innings at an average of 43.64. The 30-year-old has scored two centuries and five fifties batting at the same spot.
