Mohammad Rizwan asked to leave Big Bash League midway

“You’ve often discussed on your shows and YouTube how both Babar and Rizwan need to work on their strike rates. What happened to Rizwan has not only led to ridicule globally but has also caused a sense of humiliation. There are even opinions suggesting that Rizwan should leave the league and come back home. This reminds me of the time in the first season of the IPL when Younis Khan was left on the bench while playing for the Rajasthan Royals alongside you. He boldly said, ‘I am the captain of Pakistan; I won’t sit on the bench. You must send me back with respect.’ We’ve seen players assert themselves like that before,” the host remarked.

In reply, Akmal said, “I completely agree. This should not have happened as he is one of our leading players and has consistently delivered strong performances. But you must understand how fast-paced these leagues are. Every nation is now adopting the modern style of cricket, so it’s crucial to adapt accordingly. Rizwan has been playing with the same approach since his early days in T20s. In Australia, they view the game from a particular perspective. We’ve seen similar tactical decisions in leagues like ILT20 and the IPL.”

Akmal also mentioned a recent case where Tilak Varma of India was ‘retired out’ by the Mumbai Indians during the 2025 IPL season. “Even a crucial player like Tilak Varma was asked to leave the field. Though these decisions are made based on the match situation, Rizwan needs to think about his future direction,” Akmal remarked.

To sum up, the former Pakistan wicket-keeper suggested that Rizwan needs to modify his approach to the game if he plans to keep playing in T20 format. “For the past three or four years, I’ve been saying that the way he plays will make things challenging in the future. Modern cricket is evolving quickly, and adapting is crucial. It shouldn’t have happened to our best player and the former captain of Pakistan, but in a way, he has given them a reason to make that decision.”