Kamran Akmal reflects on Rizwan's BBL saga (Source: @emm_jai__/x.com, @Sports_Eye_10/x.com)
Cricket fans worldwide are soaking in the excitement of the ongoing BBL, but Pakistani supporters are far from pleased. After the dramatic retired-hurt drama of Mohammad Rizwan, fans have erupted in protest, voicing their frustration loudly.
However, it's not just the fans; some Pakistani greats have also raised their voices. When asked whether Mohammad Rizwan should return home after the humiliation, former wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal didn’t hold back, delivering a blunt and thought-provoking take.
Kamran Akmal speaks out on whether Rizwan should leave the BBL
Since the beginning, the BBL has always delivered some unreal dramas, but in this season, that goes beyond imagination as it has also stepped outside the 22 yards. Among all the thrills, a controversial moment put the tournament on fire as the Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter was forced to take a ‘retire-out’ against Sydney Thunder.
That move sparked massive controversy as some of the Pakistani legends wanted him to leave the tournament in the middle. Adding fuel to the debate, Kamran Akmal weighed in on the issue, and his thoughtful response during a recent discussion on GTV Sports quickly grabbed attention.
“Absolutely. I also believe this should not happen; he is our top player and a proven performer,” he said.
The world has seen it before
Adding to the debate, Kamran Akmal emphasized the importance of adapting one’s playing style to match the demands of the game. While urging the Pakistani batter to develop his technique, he said the same tactics were seen in other T20 franchise leagues too.
“However, you have to realise how fast these leagues are. Every country is now following the modern-day approach to cricket, so it is vital to develop yourself accordingly. Rizwan has been playing with the same mindset since he started in T20s. In Australia, they view the game through a specific lens. We have seen similar tactical moves in the ILT20 and the IPL,” he said.
Akmal calls for a fresh T20 mindset from Rizwan
In recent times, Mohammad Rizwan’s T20 slump has caught attention. After facing consecutive snubs from Pakistan’s T20 squad, he turned to the ongoing BBL in hopes of rediscovering his form, but the move took a bizarre twist. Following the recent humiliation, Kamran Akmal urged Rizwan to rethink and rework his T20 game.
“I have been saying for three or four years that the way he is playing will make the future very difficult. Modern-day cricket is moving at a rapid pace, and you must adapt. It should not have happened to our best player and the Pakistan captain, but he has, in a sense, given them a reason to make that call,” he added.
Even after calling Rizwan out of the ground, nothing much changed for the Melbourne Renegades as they ended their innings on 170 runs. A rain interruption then made matters worse, reducing the overs and revising the target to 140. Even after Gurinder Sandhu secured a fine four-wicket haul, the Sydney Thunder chased it down with four balls to spare, sealing a four-wicket win.
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