Pakistan’s white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan has responded with grace and honesty to criticism over his English-speaking skills, a topic that has often made him the target of online trolling. In a recent press conference, Rizwan openly admitted that while he regrets not completing his education—which led to his limited fluency in English—he isn’t ashamed of it. Instead, he emphasized that his priority is performing on the cricket field, not mastering a foreign language.
“I regret not finishing my education, that’s why I don’t know English, but I am not embarrassed that, as the captain of Pakistan, I am unable to speak English,” Rizwan said, as reported by Geo News.
He further stated, “The expectation from me is to play cricket, not speak English. If Pakistan wanted English, I would have returned, become a professor, study the language and come back. But Pakistan demands cricket, not English.”
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The Multan Sultans skipper has frequently been trolled on social media, with numerous videos of his media appearances becoming viral and providing fodder for unwarranted trolling. But Rizwan’s calm and genuine reply has received widespread appreciation, taking the focus back to where it belongs—his game on the field.
Focusing on Pakistan’s recent woes, Rizwan was not afraid to admit the shortcomings of the team. The current Pakistan team has been criticized for its dismal performances, while it was once the dominant Asian cricket team. Their performance in the recent Champions Trophy, played on home ground, was a disappointing one after an early loss to New Zealand and India, eliminating them from the group stage and dashing their title hopes.
After the tournament, Pakistan visited New Zealand for five T20Is and three ODIs ahead of the approaching 2026 and 2027 World Cups. The team could secure only one T20I victory despite adding a couple of newcomers to the squad, and they lost the series 4-1. Even the return of experienced players such as Rizwan and Babar Azam for the ODI series couldn’t improve their luck, and they were whitewashed 3-0 by a comparatively inexperienced New Zealand team.
The dismal performance led to widespread criticism against the team and former players. But Rizwan responded positively, asking not only for critics to vent their anger, but also to provide suggestions.
“It’s okay to criticise the team, but guide us too on how we can improve,” he said. “Recently, during the Champions Trophy, Wasim Akram gave us some advice. I wanted to talk to him more, but there was not enough time.”
He admitted to the fans’ disappointment but emphasized that their frustration comes from love and passion for the team. “Fans are right to be angry. They are entitled to be upset because they love us. But the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has done so much for this country. Now it’s time to enjoy the league,” Rizwan ended.
Against the backdrop of criticism and increased pressure, Rizwan’s humility and concentration on cricket says a lot—not as a player, but as a captain of Pakistan cricket who is going through a difficult time.
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