Mohammad Rizwan made headlines with his bold yet witty comments on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign and the controversial move by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Mohammad Rizwan’s remarks during a training session in Karachi went viral on social media.
Recently, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly taken a drastic step after Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026, where they lost in the Super 8 round. As a result, Pakistan players were heavily fined as the board tried to show a tough stance.
Speaking to reporters in a light mood, Rizwan surprisingly held the media responsible for the fine. The former Pakistan captain jokingly suggested that journalists, like players, should face punishment whenever the team struggles.
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“Players have been fined, but journalists should also be fined. You guys should also pay the fine – your situation is no different,” Mohammad Rizwan said with a smile, 24NewsHD TV reported.
Rizwan also highlighted how much media coverage can affect players’ image in public. He mentioned that opinions about players like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Ali Aga often depend on the tone of reports and discussions happening around them.
Additionally, Rizwan acknowledged that many journalists also stand by the team in difficult moments and defend the players when the criticism becomes too much.
The wicketkeeper-batsman said, “The world will see the players as you portray them. Also, there is no doubt that you guys also protect the team a lot.”
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The Pakistani star also admitted that the team’s World Cup campaign did not live up to expectations. Although he pointed out that Pakistan were eliminated due to net run rate, he said that even the strongest teams can face shocking results on any given day, and uncertainty is part of the game.
Rizwan further said, “Pakistan did not perform badly in the World Cup. What matters is winning. We won the last match against Sri Lanka; that is what matters most. We were eliminated only because of run rate, not because of outright defeat.”
Wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan, while sharing comments with reporters during a practice session in Karachi, said that Pakistan was eliminated on the basis of run-rate rather than losing a match.#TOKSports #rizwan #Karachi #PakistanSquad pic.twitter.com/VSispTQU7r
– TOK Sports (@TOKSports021) 6 March 2026
Muhammad Rizwan on PCB fining players for poor performance in the World Cup.
“This fine is because of you guys (journalists). Pakistan did not perform badly in the World Cup. Winning matters. We won the last match against Sri Lanka, that is what matters most. We were eliminated only because of run rate.” pic.twitter.com/zGhXS6aoP9
-Salman. (@TsMeSalman) 6 March 2026
Mohammad Rizwan withdraws from National T20 Cup 2026
Meanwhile, the upcoming National T20 Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin in Peshawar from March 7 to March 18, but just before the start, the Peshawar region has suffered a major blow: Mohammad Rizwan withdrew from the competition.
With Rizwan’s departure, the team appointed experienced all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed as the new captain for the tournament. To further strengthen the team, Peshawar has also included all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz in the team.
Lahore Whites, on the other hand, have made powerful changes to their lineup. Pakistan stars Babar Azam and Naseem Shah have now joined the team. Lahore Whites will be led by Aamir Jamal, while players like Ahmed Daniel and Mohammad Salman will also be seen in action.
