Pakistan’s Rizwan eyes more batting glory in Bangladesh T20 series
DHAKA: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan said on Monday he was feeling well ater a spell in intensive care for a chest infection and would begin training for a series in Bangladesh.
Rizwan made a miraculous recovery last week ater two days in hospital to turn in a headlinegrabbing performance in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in the UAE where he top-scored with 67 in the semi-final against Australia.
He finished the tournament with 281 runs, the third-highest among all batsmen, despite missing out on the final ater Pakistan’s heartbreaking five-wicket loss to the eventual winners.
His exploits in the tournament took his tally to 1,033 in 2021, making him the first man to score over 1,000 runs in a calendar year in Twenty20 internationals.
“I’m happy that I have scored the most runs in the calendar year. But I’m more delighted that I was able to secure this record for my country,” Rizwan told reporters in Dhaka.
Rizwan, who scored 1,743 runs in all Twenty20s in 2021, also a calendar year record, now has the chance to add a few more runs to his tally as Pakistan take on Bangladesh in a three-match series starting on Friday in Dhaka.
He struggled in the early years of his Twenty20 international career averaging just four runs in 2016 and 14.80 in 2019. But he showed promise in 2020 by scoring his maiden fity against New Zealand in December before realising his full potential this year.
The second and third Twenty20 internationals against Bangladesh will be held on Nov.20 and 22, also in Dhaka. The matches will be day-night games, with fans returning to the gallery in Bangladesh for the first time since March 2020.
Ace leg-spinner Yasir Shah will miss Pakistan’s two-match Test series in Bangladesh due to a thumb injury, the country’s cricket selectors said Monday.
The 35-year-old, who has been a match-winner for Pakistan since 2014, taking 235 wickets in 46 Tests, was injured in September.
He is replaced by 36-year-old spinner Bilal Asif, who played the most recent of his five Tests in 2018.
Pakistan will play three Twenty20 internationals in Dhaka on November 19, 21 and 22 before the two Tests in Chitagong (26-30 November) and Dhaka (4-8 December).
Opener Imam-ul-haq and middle-order batter Kamran Ghulam have been named in the 20-player squad.
Let-handed Imam returns ater stellar performances in the ongoing Quaid-e-azam Trophy, where he has racked up 488 runs in five innings, including an unbeaten double-century.
Imam played his 11th and most recent Test against Australia in Adelaide in 2019.
Kamran scored 1,249 runs in the 2020-21 Quaid-e-azam Trophy, which is a national record.
Chiefselectormohammadwasimsaidthesquad was selected based on conditions in Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh are strong side in their backyard but we have the resources, talent and experience to perform strongly and then carry that momentum into the Australia Tests, which will be in Pakistan next year,” said Wasim.