Former India cricketer turned famous analyst Aakash Chopra has said that Mohammad Rizwan deserves a lot of praise for his brilliant batting during Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2021 semi-final defeat against Australia.
He smashed 67 runs off 52 deliveries to put up a target of 177 runs for Australia. However, they chased down the target with ease that too an over in hand.
A courageous effort from @iMRizwanPak against Australia 🤝#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Uz0xx8o4xU
— ICC (@ICC) November 12, 2021
While talking about Pakistan’s batting performance in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra praised Rizwan and Babar Azam as well. He said:
“When Australia won the toss and opted to field, Babar came to bat. How well he was batting, the timing at the start – it was just surreal. There was Rizwan with him, who was struggling a little at the start, but the guy is worthy of praise.”
“The boldness with which he [Rizwan] plays, he has not played too many knockout matches in his life, but the way he batted, it was worth watching. It was enjoyable to watch him bat and Babar as well, although he did slow down a little. I was expecting that his wagon will run a little faster,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
“He is the man for knockouts” – Aakash Chopra on Fakhar Zaman
Fakhar Zaman has played 4 semi-finals and finals in international cricket. Batting average 105.66, strike rate 130.99. Big match player!
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 11, 2021
However, Rizwan hit three fours and four sixes in his 67-run knock. He stitched a 71-run opening wicket partnership with Babar Azam to give Pakistan a good start as well. However, he also lauded how he scored massive sixes off Mitchell Starc’s bowling.
“After that comes Fakhar Zaman, who scores 17 runs off the first 17 balls. The game was stuck a little but then cometh the hour, cometh the man. He is the man for knockouts, our 2017 wounds are still fresh. He made runs here as well and the batting at the end was fantastic. What amazing sixes he hit, who hits sixes like that against Mitchell Starc but he did that. He took the team to 176, that’s a lot of runs, to be very honest,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
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