Multan Hosts, But Rizwan Hosts Old Habits Too
In what could be a season-defining match for Multan Sultans, they won the toss and chose to bat first on their home ground in Multan. But instead of laying down a strong foundation, skipper Muhammad Rizwan once again turned heads for the wrong reasons. On a slow tack—but still playable—Rizwan crawled to 36 off 37 balls. Yes, 36 runs off 37 deliveries.
A Knock That Hurt More Than It Helped
Let’s be honest. T20 cricket doesn’t wait for anyone. And it certainly doesn’t wait for someone to get set for 30 balls. Rizwan’s innings lacked intent, urgency, and awareness of modern-day T20 requirements. He anchored too long, putting pressure on fellow batters—a tale we’ve seen far too many times, both for Multan Sultans and Team Pakistan.
This kind of approach isn’t just outdated—it’s harmful. Multan still managed a respectable 168/5 in 20 overs, mostly thanks to Usman Khan’s explosive 61 off 40 and Yasir Khan’s quickfire 29 off 17. Even Kamran Ghulam chipped in with a useful cameo, hitting a six and a four. But imagine if Rizwan had even struck at a run-a-ball pace, Multan could have easily added 15 to 20 more runs.
A Pattern That’s Becoming Too Familiar
Rizwan’s T20 strike rate struggles aren’t new. Pakistan cricket fans painfully remember the 2024 T20 World Cup match against India, where his sluggish batting stalled momentum. Eventually, it cost Pakistan the game. No wonder he’s now dropped from Pakistan’s T20 setup, as selectors look for more aggressive, fearless players who can handle pressure and powerplay demands.
Islamabad United Put on a Show
In response, Islamabad United came out all guns blazing.They made it clear early on—intent is the currency of modern T20s.They blasted 69 runs in the powerplay, immediately putting Multan on the back foot. Sahibzada Farhan gave a quick start with 22 off 13. Colin Munro continued the assault with 45 off 28. And the star of the night? Andries Gous, who hammered 80 off just 45 balls*, smacking 6 fours and 5 sixes.
Islamabad cruised to victory with 7 wickets in hand and 17 balls to spare.
Post-Match Reactions
Rizwan admitted in the post-match presentation that the pitch played better under lights… we were short of runs and now need to win every game to stay alive in the tournament. But isn’t this the same song after every slow knock? Shadab Khan, the Islamabad captain, rightly credited his bowlers for restricting Sultan’s batting.
Final Thoughts: Time to Rethink, Rizwan
T20 cricket is no longer about safety-first—it’s about strike rates, power plays, and bold cricket. Muhammad Rizwan is a class player no doubt, but his methods are simply out of sync with the modern game.So we ask again: When will you learn, Rizwan?
Also read this : https://cric92.com/ipl/kl-rahul-made-history-fastest-5k-ipl-runs-as-dc-crushed-lsg/