Sahibzada Farhan calls Rizwan ‘fighter’ ahead of Australia series

Top-order batsman Sahibzada Farhan has praised Mohammad Rizwan, who has been appointed as Pakistan's new white-ball captain, calling him a "fighter" with great leadership potential. Rizwan takes over from Babar Azam just before a challenging tour of Australia, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is.

Farhan, who is part of the T20I squad but not included in the ODI lineup, expressed confidence in Rizwan's ability to lead the team effectively. 

“Rizwan has been my captain before, so playing under him won't be difficult,” Farhan stated during a media interaction at the training camp at National Bank Stadium in Karachi.

He believes Rizwan's competitive spirit, evident in both club and international matches, will benefit the national team.

“He will turn out to be a good captain for Pakistan. He is a fighter, whether in club matches or international games - his style remains the same,” he added.

Having made his T20I debut in 2018 and recently captaining the Pakistan Shaheens on a tour of Darwin, Farhan feels well-prepared for the Australian conditions. 

“We have toured Australia before and played One-Day matches there, so I am familiar with the conditions,” he said.

Farhan is willing to bat in any position for the team but hopes to bat in his usual spot. 

“I'll be ready to play wherever I'm needed, but I hope to get a chance to play in the same position I play in domestic matches,” he noted.

Confident in his abilities, Farhan highlighted his strong performance in domestic cricket over the past few years. 

“For the past three or four years, I've been one of the top performers in domestic cricket, and if given the opportunity, I'll perform well,” he remarked.

He also acknowledged the pressure of playing at the international level but emphasized the importance of giving players multiple chances to prove themselves. 

“There's always pressure in international cricket, but one or two matches aren't enough to judge a player's career. In my opinion, it's essential to give players a fair chance, like five or six matches, to prove themselves,” he concluded.