Pakistan’s white-ball captain, Muhammad Rizwan, has raised eyebrows by choosing to play in club-level cricket instead of participating in the ongoing National T20 Cup, which continues until March 27. This decision comes after his recent return from Umrah and Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, where the defending champions finished last in Group A without securing a single win.
Rizwan, 31, decided to stay in his hometown and play local matches, even scoring an unbeaten century in one of the games. Pictures of him playing club cricket have circulated on social media, further highlighting his choice to skip the domestic competition. His absence from the National T20 Cup comes after the selection committee left him out of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, along with other senior players.
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Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand began on a sour note with a crushing nine-wicket defeat in the first T20I. The team’s batting order collapsed, managing only 91 runs, with New Zealand comfortably chasing the target with 59 balls to spare—a historic low for Pakistan while batting first in a T20I.
Rizwan’s decision to prioritize club cricket over the national competition has sparked debate over player priorities and team selections as Pakistan gears up for future white-ball engagements.
