World Cup 2023: Rizwan's record-breaking century secures victory for Pakistan in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, October 11 - Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan's talented wicketkeeper-batsman, expressed deep gratitude to the local curator in Hyderabad for preparing a pitch that allowed him to shine with a stunning unbeaten century. Rizwan's exceptional performance, scoring 131 not out from 121 balls, led Pakistan to a remarkable six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a record-breaking run chase at the World Cup.

In this historic game, Pakistan successfully chased down a target of 345 runs, making it the highest successful run chase in World Cup history. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rizwan shared, "When we got to the ground for the first time, he (curator) said, 'Rizwan, you must hit two 100s on this ground.' I met him today as well. We can pray for him, and you should pray for him too." Pakistan concluded its two-week stint in Hyderabad with two wins in two games, and the warm reception from the crowd left Rizwan feeling as though he was playing in Rawalpindi.

He praised the hospitality and love shown by the people of Hyderabad, stating, "I felt like I was playing a match in Pindi. The way the crowd gave love today, and not just me, the whole Pakistan team got love. In fact, they supported Sri Lanka too. I am happy that the crowd in Hyderabad has supported cricket, both Sri Lanka and us. I had a lot of fun with them."

Rizwan's 176-run partnership with Abdullah Shafique, who also scored a century, set the tone for Pakistan's successful chase. Rizwan acknowledged that the decision to include Abdullah Shafique in the playing XI instead of the out-of-form Fakhar Zaman proved to be the right choice. He emphasised that such decisions are made by the management and captain, and senior players like himself provide advice.

Additionally, Rizwan discussed his adaptability as a key factor in his success. Having batted in different positions in various formats, he believes this experience allows him to read game situations from different angles and adjust accordingly. He explained, "In T20, Misbah-ul-Haq asked me to open, now management gave me the number 4 position in ODIs, maybe that's why I can see things."

During their partnership, Rizwan advised Shafique not to focus on the scoreboard but instead to break the target into smaller parts. He described their approach, saying, "I told Abdullah, 'Don't look at the board.' We kept following our plan, because there was a separate plan till 20 overs, there was a separate plan till 30, and then there was a separate plan till 40 overs. This is what we planned."

Rizwan's incredible innings and his partnership with Shafique showcased Pakistan's strong performance in Hyderabad, leaving them in high spirits as they move forward in the World Cup.

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- With inputs from agencies

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