Mohammad Rizwan Responds to English Criticism with Honesty
Rizwan Addresses Language Criticism
Karachi [Pakistan], April 12: Mohammad Rizwan, the captain of Pakistan's white-ball cricket team, has faced significant trolling regarding his English proficiency. In a candid response, he expressed that he does not feel embarrassed about his language skills, emphasizing that his primary focus is on playing cricket rather than mastering English.
Rizwan has been the subject of mockery on social media, with various clips of his interactions before and after matches circulating widely. During a press conference, he shared, as reported by a Media House, “I regret not completing my education, which is why I don’t know English, but I am not ashamed that as Pakistan’s captain, I cannot speak English.”
He further stated, “The demand from me is to play cricket, not to speak English. If Pakistan wanted English, I would become a professor, learn it, and return. But Pakistan asks me for cricket, not English.”
Rizwan also reflected on the current struggles of the Pakistan cricket team, which has faced criticism for its performance. Once a dominant force in Asian cricket, the team is now grappling with a decline in form.
Following disappointing performances in recent ICC tournaments, Pakistan was eliminated early from the Champions Trophy held on home soil, suffering defeats against New Zealand and India.
After this setback, Pakistan toured New Zealand for a series of T20Is and ODIs, keeping future World Cups in mind. Despite introducing new players, they faced a 4-1 series defeat but remained hopeful for improvement in the ODIs.
Rizwan, along with Babar Azam, returned to the squad, but the team continued to struggle, being whitewashed 3-0 by a less experienced New Zealand side.
In light of the backlash from fans and former players, Rizwan called for constructive criticism, urging critics to provide solutions for the team's improvement. He noted, “It’s fine to criticize the team, but also guide us on how to improve. Recently, during the Champions Trophy, Wasim Akram gave us advice. I wanted to talk more with him, but there wasn’t enough time.”
Rizwan acknowledged the fans' frustrations, stating, “Fans are justified in their anger, and they’ve all the right to be upset at us because they also love us. But the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has given so much to Pakistan. Now it’s time to enjoy the league.”