NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s new white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan came under intense criticism following his team’s 13-run defeat to Australia in the second T20I at Sydney on Saturday.
Despite a solid bowling performance from Haris Rauf, who claimed 4/22, Pakistan’s batting faltered, and Rizwan’s performance in particular was heavily scrutinized.
Set a modest target of 148, Pakistan’s chase got off to a rocky start with the loss of Babar Azam (3) early.
However, it was Rizwan’s innings that caught the most flak. He faced 26 balls for just 16 runs, struggling to accelerate and leaving his side in a dire situation.
His dismissal, caught by Tim David off Spencer Johnson, sparked an avalanche of social media criticism.
One fan called it “the most damaging innings I have ever watched in T20Is,” while another bluntly urged Rizwan to retire from T20 cricket.
The frustration among fans was palpable, with some even pointing fingers at both Rizwan and Babar Azam as the root cause of Pakistan’s batting issues.
Rizwan’s slow approach drew comparisons with this trend, further adding to the discontent.
While Usman Khan fought valiantly, scoring a quickfire 52, the middle and lower order crumbled under pressure from Spencer Johnson, who took a sensational 5-26 to bowl Pakistan out for 134.
Rizwan tried to focus on the positives, noting his team’s strong bowling performance, but his captaincy was overshadowed by the batting collapse.
This loss gives Australia a 2-0 lead in the series, leaving Pakistan with little room for error in the final game at Hobart.