Pakistan Eyes South Africa Challenge, Not History: Rizwan

News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan’s white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan has asserted that the Men in Green are not intimidated by South Africa’s strong home record and past performances. Rizwan emphasized the team’s focus on the upcoming three-match T20I series and their desire to perform well.

Speaking to the media outside Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban, Rizwan said Pakistan’s players would not rely on past victories against the Proteas. “We are focused on the current challenge and won’t rest on past laurels,” he stated.

Acknowledging the challenges posed by the away conditions, Rizwan explained that the team must adjust to unfamiliar pitches and weather, which differ from Pakistan’s home conditions. “As professional players, we must acclimatize quickly and perform well in these conditions,” he added.

On the inclusion of young players, Rizwan highlighted the recent good performances of emerging talents in Australia and Zimbabwe, noting that they have strengthened the team’s bench.

“The young players have gelled well with the senior cricketers and are learning from their experience,” Rizwan said.

Discussing team selection, he confirmed that the squad for the South Africa tour had been chosen based on the conditions, adding that a different group of players would likely be selected for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India.

He expressed hope that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would be able to pick the best 18 players from the current pool.

Regarding the non-selection of Fakhar Zaman, Rizwan clarified that Fakhar, known for his game-changing abilities, was not excluded due to any ill-will. Instead, his absence was due to minor health issues.

Rizwan stated that Fakhar had been advised to participate in the ongoing domestic T20 tournament while receiving care from the PCB’s medical panel.