'Some decisions are beyond my control': Rizwan on Fakhar Zaman's exclusion

Pakistan’s white-ball cricket captain, Mohammad Rizwan, has commended teammate Fakhar Zaman’s potential impact on the game while underscoring that his own leadership will not bring sweeping changes to the team’s current setup.

Ahead of departing for Pakistan’s tour in Australia, Rizwan spoke to media, acknowledging the influence of former head coach Aaqib Javed’s strategies and his belief in creating spin-friendly pitches for home matches.

“Aaqib Javed’s decisions have proven beneficial for the team. It has been said before that we can achieve success by making spin-friendly pitches for our home series,” Rizwan said.

Rizwan went on to address the challenges posed by Australia’s conditions, explaining that Javed’s strategies cannot be replicated there.

“The pitches in Australia are not under Aaqib Javed's control. The conditions there are different and tough. We have worked hard, and I hope for good results,” he remarked.

On the subject of Zaman, Rizwan praised his game-changing abilities, stating, “Fakhar Zaman is a player who can impact the game significantly. However, the decisions regarding the team are not in our hands. He has the ability to turn a match on his own.”

Commenting on the coaching scenario, Rizwan asserted that decisions ultimately fall to the board and management.

He added that while he has always been willing to share his opinions, he accepted the captaincy as a duty rather than a goal.

“Whoever comes as a coach, the decisions are up to the board and management. If my opinion is sought, I will certainly provide it. There will not be a sudden transformation with my captaincy,” he said, adding that he never aspired to the captaincy position and accepted it as “a responsibility bestowed upon him by Allah.”

Rizwan expressed his desire for a team with shared leadership, explaining, “I want to ensure that when I leave, there are multiple leaders within the team.”

He recalled his past contributions during former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s tenure and emphasized the importance of continuity, hinting that not all will shift immediately under his captaincy.

With an eye on the Champions Trophy, Rizwan said that the team will finalize T20 batting positions as they strategize for the tournament. Reflecting on Pakistan’s recent tour in India, he also highlighted the warm reception received from Indian fans and expressed confidence that the Pakistani public would reciprocate when hosting India in the future, though decisions regarding participation are in the board’s hands.