Mohammad Rizwan, one of Pakistan’s top batters, has consistently delivered crucial performances for his team. However, he is also known for his on-field antics, such as frequent appeals and occasionally pretending to have a hamstring injury while batting. Recently, Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary openly criticized Rizwan for his behavior.
During an appearance on the 2 Sloggers Podcast, Chaudhary remarked that Rizwan tends to appeal excessively and shout after every ball. He also joked about Rizwan’s use of white lip balm, comparing it to lipstick, and noted how he jumps around “like a pigeon.”
Chaudhary added that with advancements in technology, players like Rizwan should be cautious about making themselves look bad. He said, “He appeals a lot. I even told my fellow umpire to stay aware. Har ball pe chillata hai (He keeps shouting on every ball). Isn’t he the one who puts something like a lipstick? He keeps jumping like a pigeon… Aur itna technology aa gaya hai, kyun apna beizatti karwa rahein ho? Ulta seedha nikla jayega, toh log aap hi ka mazak udayenge (When technology has evolved so much, why do you have to make yourself look bad? People tend to make fun of such things).”
Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan is making headlines for his performance in the first Test against Bangladesh. He scored an impressive 171 runs off 249 balls, hitting 11 fours and 3 sixes. His partnership of 240 runs with Saud Shakeel helped Pakistan’s innings significantly. Rizwan’s 171-run knock also ended a 15-year drought for Pakistan, becoming the first wicketkeeper-batter since Kamran Akmal in 2009 to score 150+ runs in a Test innings. He now joins the ranks of Taslim Arif, Imtiaz Ahmed, Rashid Latif, and Kamran Akmal as Pakistani wicketkeepers to achieve this feat.