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Pakistan Captain Mohammad Rizwan Ditches National T20 Cup, To Play Club Cricket Instead

Akshita Patel

Mohammad Rizwan lands in fresh controversy [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.com]Mohammad Rizwan lands in fresh controversy [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.com]

Pakistan white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan has made a surprising decision to skip the National T20 Cup in favour of playing club cricket. This move comes after Pakistan’s disastrous campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025.

Pakistan cricket hit a new low during the Champions Trophy 2025 edition as they became the first team to get eliminated, despite being the host nation. Captain Rizwan faced the heat due to a lack of performance, unreasonable strategies and problematic squad selection. 

Moreover, the skipper’s latest action has further raised eyebrows among fans and experts.

Mohammad Rizwan Ignores Pakistan’s National T20 Cup

Pakistan, the defending champions, endured a horrific Champions Trophy run, failing to win a single match and finishing at the bottom of Group A with just one point. 

After the debacle, Rizwan took time off for Umrah and, upon returning, chose to participate in local club cricket instead of the ongoing National T20 Cup, which runs until March 27. 

Recently, pictures of Rizwan playing in a club cricket match surfaced on social media, with reports suggesting that he scored an unbeaten century. However, his decision to focus on club cricket instead of competing at a higher domestic level has raised eyebrows. 

Adding to the controversy, Rizwan and other senior players were overlooked for Pakistan’s ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Pakistan’s struggles in the series were evident in the opening match, where they were bundled out for just 91 runs after a shocking top-order collapse.

With Pakistan's T20 World Cup preparations in doubt, Rizwan's choice to participate in club cricket rather than high-level domestic matches has raised questions about the direction of the team.

Why Was Mohammad Rizwan Dropped From New Zealand Series?

Following Pakistan’s loss to India in the Champions Trophy, Rizwan reportedly gathered his teammates and made a bold statement, claiming that while players and coaches wouldn’t be affected by defeats, the selectors and coaches would be sacked. 

This remark didn’t sit well with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who, instead of firing the selectors, decided to drop Rizwan from the T20I squad against New Zealand and strip him of the captaincy.