Mohammad Rizwan

Rizwan’s journey to prominence in the cricketing world has been one of resilience and determination. Despite facing tough competition for the wicketkeeper-batsman role in the Pakistan team, he persevered and seized his opportunities with both gloves and bat. His remarkable work ethic and dedication to his craft have earned him admiration from fans and fellow cricketers alike.

One of Rizwan’s defining moments came during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2020. In the absence of regular captain Babar Azam, Rizwan showcased his leadership qualities by guiding Pakistan to a memorable victory in the first Test at Old Trafford. His gritty century in that match, under pressure, was a testament to his mental strength and composure.

Beyond his exploits in international cricket, Rizwan has also been a standout performer in domestic leagues, particularly the Pakistan Super League (PSL). His consistent performances for franchises like Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans have cemented his reputation as one of the premier wicketkeeper-batsmen in the T20 format.

Off the field, Rizwan is known for his humility and down-to-earth demeanor. He often credits his success to the support of his family, teammates, and coaches. Rizwan’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a key figure in Pakistan cricket serves as an inspiration to aspiring cricketers around the world. With his talent, work ethic, and leadership qualities, Mohammad Rizwan undoubtedly has a bright future ahead in the world of cricket.

Mohammad Rizwan Career Highlights 

– He currently serves as the vice-captain of the Pakistan cricket team in T20I cricket.

– Rizwan captains the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans.

– Notably, he holds the distinction of being the only player to score 2000 runs in a calendar year in T20s.

– He also holds the vice-captaincy position in the Pakistan cricket team for Test cricket.

– Rizwan was recognized as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2021 and the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year 2021.

– Rizwan is the leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals in a calendar year, accumulating 1326 runs in 26 innings with an impressive average of 73.66.

Mohammad Rizwan Awards 

-PCB’s Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year for 2021

-PCB’s T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2021

-Named in ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year for 2021

-Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 2021

-ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2021

-Named in ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year for 2022

Career 

Domestic career 

Making his first-class debut with Peshawar in 2008–09, Rizwan showcased early promise with five 50s in his first seven innings. He caught the eye of Basit Ali, leading to inclusion in Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited for 2011–12. His standout performance came in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final in 2014–15, where his 224 propelled Sui Northern to victory.

Rizwan’s List A career saw highs like scoring 140 against Federal Areas in May 2018. He captained teams like Punjab and Federal Areas in domestic competitions. Notably, he led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, earning player of the tournament in the 2019–20 National T20 Cup. Rizwan continued his domestic success, captaining Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the 2020–21 season.

In December 2021, he secured a contract with Sussex for County Championship and T20 cricket in 2022.

PSL Career 

Rizwan’s PSL journey started with Lahore Qalandars in 2016, but his two-year tenure yielded disappointment, with the team failing to reach playoffs and Rizwan scoring just 233 runs in 16 matches. Moving to Karachi Kings from 2018 to 2020 didn’t offer much improvement, as he struggled to secure a consistent spot and often batted lower down the order.

However, Rizwan’s fortunes changed in 2021 when he joined Multan Sultans as captain. His leadership saw immediate success, winning the PSL title in his debut season and finishing runners-up in the next two. Individually, he flourished, scoring 1596 runs from 2021 to 2023, claiming the Hanif Mohammad Cap for highest run-scorer in PSL 8 and becoming the only player to score 500+ runs in three PSL seasons. His highlight moment came in February 2023, smashing his second T20 century and first PSL century with an unbeaten 110 off 64 balls against Karachi Kings.

International career 

Rizwan debuted for Pakistan in ODIs and T20Is against Bangladesh in April 2015. His Test debut came against New Zealand in November 2016. Notable milestones include his first ODI century against Australia in March 2019 and his impressive performance during Pakistan’s tour to England in 2020, where he excelled in Tests, earning Player of the Series.

In December 2020, Rizwan was appointed captain for Pakistan’s Test side against New Zealand. He showcased his prowess with a career-best T20I score of 89 against New Zealand. In February 2021, he scored his maiden Test century against South Africa, and later the same month, he achieved his first T20I century against the same opponent. Rizwan also holds the record for the highest partnership in T20Is for any wicket with Babar Azam.

In December 2021, Rizwan became the first batter to score 2,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket in a calendar year. He continued his stellar form in September 2022, partnering with Babar to set a record T20 cricket partnership of 203 runs. In October 2023, he played a crucial role in Pakistan’s victory against Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup, scoring an unbeaten century in a high-pressure chase.

Test Career 

Following his leadership of SNGPL to consecutive Quaid-e-Azam Trophy triumphs in 2014/15 and 2015/16, Mohammad Rizwan earned his debut Test call-up for Pakistan’s New Zealand tour in 2016. Though starting modestly, his resurgence coincided with Sarfaraz’s absence in 2019, firmly establishing his Test credentials.

During the 2019-20/21 overseas cycle, Rizwan displayed remarkable consistency, averaging 44.25, 40.25, and 43.00 in Australia, England, and New Zealand respectively. Since 2020, he stands among three Pakistani batters to surpass 1000 runs. Noteworthy were his maiden Test century, an unbeaten 115* versus South Africa, and a vital 104 against Australia, saving the match.

However, his form dipped in subsequent series, with modest totals of 120 runs against Sri Lanka and 141 runs against England in 2022. Consequently, he was omitted for the New Zealand Tests, making way for Sarfaraz Ahmed’s return to the side.

ODI Career 

Rizwan’s ODI journey began in April 2015, impressing initially with a brisk 67 against Bangladesh. However, inconsistency led to his exclusion after just 25 matches, averaging 28.75. Despite scoring two centuries against Australia in the UAE before the 2019 World Cup, he missed out on selection. Following Sarfaraz Ahmed’s departure post-World Cup, Rizwan returned as the first-choice keeper but struggled to regain form. Since 2022, he’s amassed 542 runs in 19 innings at 31.88. Notable performances include twin 77s against New Zealand in 2023, with one leading to victory and the other to defeat.

T20 International Career 

Mohammad Rizwan debuted in T20Is in April 2015 but secured a regular spot only after Sarfaraz Ahmed’s omission in September 2019. His T20I zenith came in 2021 with a maiden half-century against New Zealand followed by a century against South Africa. Since 2021, he’s been unmatched in T20I runs, amassing 2147 runs at an astonishing average of 65.06 and a strike rate of 131.47.

He set records in 2021, becoming the first to score over 2000 T20 runs in a year. Notably, he partnered with Babar Azam to become the most prolific duo in T20Is, accumulating 2538 runs together. Despite losing the series to England, Rizwan topped the runs chart with 316 runs at a strike rate of 138.60.

In the 2022 T20 World Cup, he struggled initially but rebounded with a crucial knock in the semi-final against New Zealand. However, he managed just 15 runs in the final as Pakistan finished as runners-up.

Family 

Born on June 1, 1992, in Peshawar to Akhter Parvez, Mohammad Rizwan grew up in a Pashtun family of six siblings. He is the second of three brothers. Initially honing his cricketing skills with tape ball cricket, Rizwan later progressed to playing for clubs like Islamia College and Shama Club. Eventually, he represented Peshawar Under-19 in 2007, marking the beginning of his formal cricketing journey.