Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan wicketkeeper) reckoned when former chairman and cricketer Ramiz Raza called the Green squad to dismiss India even if they do not win the title before the 2021 T20 World Cup. Ramiz Raza was recently appointed as the 35th Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman in September 2021 prior to the start of the mega event.
The Men in Green struggled to defeat India in both the ODI and T20 World Cup but finally, they broke the chain of desperation in their 2021 T20 World Cup after restricting India to 151/7 in 20 overs. But they successfully chased down the target in 17.5 overs will all 10 wickets in their hand. Mohammad Rizwan scored a sensational 55 ball 79*, while skipper Babar Azam registered 68 off 52*.
Ramiz Raja met to us and said you have to beat India- Mohammad Rizwan
Speaking at an event before the start of the mega-event, the ICC T20 World Cup, Rizwan recalled the heat-up moment of the clash between India and Pakistan of the 2021 edition and Ramiz Raza’s words.
“We had never beaten India before that (in a World Cup). Ramiz Raja met us and said, you have to beat India. There was a long time to go for the World Cup when he first came in (as PCB president) but he had started developing this thought in the team from right then. As we got closer to the World Cup he said, regardless of whether you win the trophy or not, just don’t lose to India. He used to say don’t come under pressure, and then would put pressure on us,” Rizwan mentioned.
Sadly, Pakistan was able to register a single win against India in the 2021 ICC t20 World Cup. India remains at the top with 6-1 in the T20 World Cup and 8-0 in the ODI World Cup.
When we won, that is when I realized what we achieved – Mohammad Rizwan
Mohammad Rizwan accepted that he did not realize the gravity of the India-Pakistan match until the face-off in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where it was the latter’s first encounter against India in any format.
“For me it was all a first, whether it be playing in a World Cup or in such a big match. So I was feeling quite normal, I didn’t think this was any different from any other match. But when we won, that is when I realised what we achieved,” Rizwan clarified.
He also further added:
“In Pakistan, say I go for shopping somewhere, people won’t take money. Then I stopped going out for shopping because they just weren’t taking money from us, they were all commending us for beating India. Everyone I met was commending us for the win. Once when I went to someone’s room they had the match playing on television and said that they watch it everyday.”
Rizwan has played across all formats of the game, with an average score of 49.60 including two half-centuries.
Pakistan will take on the Men in Blue on June 9, Sunday in New York.