World Cup 2023: Mohammad Rizwan ‘Felt like We are in Karachi’

Mohammad Rizwan ‘Felt like We are in Karachi’: Mohammad Rizwan, the wicket-keeper and batter for Pakistan, expressed his joy at the enthusiastic praise they received from the Indian audience and compared it to the welcome they would receive at home.

Right-handed batter Rizwan highlighted the need of communication during his partnership with Babar Azam and expressed his delight in his century during the warm-up match against New Zealand on Friday in Hyderabad.

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On September 27, the day before the much-awaited event, the Pakistan cricket team was welcomed with an amazing welcome in Hyderabad. According to their remarks on the team’s official social media pages, players including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Rizwan were taken aback by the supporters’ fervor and excitement.

Mohammad Rizwan ‘Felt like We are in Karachi’

“A hundred is a hundred, proud and happy of it. Scoring a century for Pakistan is always special. The Indian crowd gave us a lot of love at the airport itself, just like how our fans love us back in Pakistan. We were welcomed in India in a great way.

“Whenever we meet Indian people anywhere in the world, they always welcome us and talk to us nicely.

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When we came to Hyderabad, we got goosebumps seeing the reception of the crowd. It felt like we’re in Karachi or Lahore,” Rizwan said.

The 31-year-old also showered praise on Saud Shakeel for his impressive performance, scoring 75 runs off just 53 balls.

“In T20Is I open for Pakistan, in Tests I bat at 6-7 and in ODIs I bat at number 4, I play according to the team requirements. Saud Shakeel is in great form and he played a classy knock today.

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“Hopefully he turns out to be a great player in the ODI format as well. I and Babar try to rotate the strike, we bat similarly, our communication is good and that helps us.”

However, it was the combined efforts of James Neesham, Mark Chapman, and Daryl Mitchell that truly sealed the deal for the Black Caps. With their exceptional batting prowess, Chapman and Mitchell also achieved half-centuries, solidifying New Zealand’s dominance as they clinched the victory with 38 balls remaining and five wickets in hand.

(With input from DNAIndia)