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"Just because Rizwan picked up the Palestine flag...": Rashid fumes at PCB's shocking move

Shreyasi

Mohammad Rizwan [Source: X/@CallMeSheri1]Mohammad Rizwan [Source: X/@CallMeSheri1]

The Pakistan Cricket Board sacked Mohammad Rizwan and appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new ODI captain on Monday. While the board did not give any reason, former player Rashid Latif held head coach Mike Hesson responsible for the same.

Rashid Latif blames Mike Hesson for Rizwan's removal

Former cricketer Rashid Latif brought a different angle to the drama. He held Mike Hesson, the head coach of Pakistan team responsible for the same. Interestingly, Latif claimed that Rizwan showing support to Palestine was the real reason behind his removal as the ODI captain of Pakistan.

Mohammad Rizwan had declared in April last year that his franchise Multan Sultans would support charity in Palestine through their PSL fixtures. He had pledged support of Pakistani Rupees 100,000 for every six and wicket secured by their players during a match in April this year. Recalling the same, Latif opined.

"Just because he picked up the Palestine flag, you would sack him as captain? This mindset has come that a non-Islamic captain should come in an Islamic country," Latif said in a video shared on social media.

In the video, he also claimed that Rizwan brought religious practices into the dressing room as captain which the coach did not like. 

"Mike Hesson is the one behind this decision, right? He isn't someone who likes this culture in the dressing room. Why aren't they understanding? He has a team of 5-6 people. He would want to finish such a culture in the dressing room. We never cared about these things, even in times when Inzamam ul Haq, Saeed Anwar or Saqlain Mushtaq were in the team."

PCB chooses Shaheen as new ODI captain in place of Rizwan

Meanwhile, PCB's news came as a surprise as Rizwan was appointed for the role in October last year. On the other hand, Shaheen was recently sacked as the T20I captain after the team lost to New Zealand 4-1. With Shaheen as the new ODI captain, Pakistan team will now have three different captains for three formats.

For Rizwan the Champions Trophy exit followed by the three-match series against West Indies was final nail on the coffin. As an ODI captain, Rizwan led the series wins against Australia and South Africa. The announcement came on the opening day of the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Rawalpindi.  Reportedly, the selection committee met the head coach Mike Hesson and took the call. However, PCB did not give any official reason behind removing Rizwan.