Mohammad Rizwan Shares Insights into Pakistan’s Record-breaking Chase

Mohammad Rizwan, the hero behind Pakistan’s historic chase against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, revealed the mindset and strategy that fueled their triumphant pursuit of a daunting target of 344 runs.

In a post-match interview with Simon Doull for the ICC, Rizwan expressed the team’s unwavering belief in chasing down the challenging total, emphasizing the positive vibes and confidence prevalent among the players during the mid-innings break.

He highlighted two pivotal moments that shaped Pakistan’s winning mindset. Firstly, after Kusal Mendis’s explosive 122 off 77 balls, which propelled Sri Lanka to 218 within 29 overs, Pakistan focused on restricting the opposition to a manageable score between 340-350. The team understood the pitch’s nature and their capability to chase such a target on a good track.

The second crucial point came after the early dismissal of Babar Azam at 37/2 in Pakistan’s innings. Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique (113) opted to build a substantial partnership rather than fretting about the required run rate. They aimed to establish a solid foundation that would allow them to accelerate towards the end, treating the latter phase as a T20 innings.

Their 176-run partnership laid the groundwork for a successful chase, despite Shafique’s departure leaving Pakistan needing 132 runs with 101 balls remaining. Rizwan’s composure and crucial contributions from Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed sealed the remarkable victory with 10 balls to spare.

During his impressive innings, Rizwan experienced cramps at one point but humorously downplayed it as a mix of cramps and a dramatic reaction, indicating that such instances occur occasionally.

Acknowledging the physio’s support and cramp-relief measures, Rizwan reassured that he was fine and ready for the upcoming matches. With two consecutive wins, Pakistan stands in a strong position in the tournament standings, eyeing a crucial clash against India in their next fixture.

Rizwan’s insights into Pakistan’s mindset and strategic approach underscored the team’s confidence and determination to overcome challenges, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter against India as they aim for a spot in the tournament’s final stages.