Pak vs Aus: Mohammad Rizwan defends Pakistan's strategy on first day

“You can’t call it negative strategy, we did what we thought is in best interest of team," Rizwan says

Faizan Lakhani

March 12, 2022

“You can’t call it negative strategy," Rizwan says about team's bowling.
"We did what we thought is in best interest of team," vice-captain says.
Pakistan’s bowling strategy was criticised was termed negative by many.

KARACHI: Pakistan cricket team’s vice-captain and wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has defended Pakistan’s strategy on the first day’s play during the second Test against Australia at Karachi’s National Stadium.

Australia finished day one with 251-3 on board. They were 63 for no loss after the first hour and 100-2 at lunch but then could only 151 runs and lost one more wicket in the next two sessions.

Pakistan’s bowling strategy came under criticism and was termed negative by many.

However, Rizwan said that it can’t be termed negative.

“You can’t call it negative strategy, we did what we thought is in the best interest of the team. Australia took maximum advantage of the situation after winning the toss in the first session and we had to restrict the pace of their scoring,” Rizwan told journalists after the end of the first day.

“You plan session by session in Test cricket, Smith’s wicket took us back in-game. We will try to get them out as early as possible tomorrow and then post a big score on board,” the Pakistani vice-captain said.

Rizwan agreed that batting in the 4th innings would not be easy and it will be a challenge for Pakistan to chase here.

“Australia won the toss and they took the advantage, the wicket will start turning soon and I am very much hopeful of a result in Karachi Test,” he said.

Replying to a question, Rizwan said that he is fully fit and there’s no injury concern.

“Wicket keepers do get hit on fingers regularly, so that’s not a big deal, we have to endure small hits on fingers. There’s no injury concern and I am fully fit,” the wicket-keeper batter said.