"Pakistan wants cricket, not English:" Mohammad Rizwan hits back at trolls

Pakistan white-ball skipper and Multan Sultans’ captain Mohammad Rizwan firmly dismissed criticism over his English proficiency, stating that he prioritises performance on the field over language skills.

Frequently targeted online for his less-than-fluent English, Rizwan addressed the issue for the first time during a press conference on Friday.

“I regret not completing my education, which is why I don’t know English,” he said. “But I’m not ashamed that, as Pakistan’s captain, I cannot speak English.”

The star batter emphasised that speaking English is neither part of his sport nor a requirement he is obligated to fulfil. His primary focus, he reiterated, remains on improving his game.

“The demand from me is to play cricket, not to speak English,” Rizwan said. “If Pakistan wanted English, I’d become a professor, learn it, and come back. But Pakistan wants cricket, not English.”

He added, “Sometimes I feel I can explain things to an Englishman in my own way — and he’ll understand me just fine. The real problem lies with those who just want to stay upset with me.”

Rizwan also encouraged his critics to offer constructive feedback about his performance, rather than fixating on his flaws.

“It’s fine to criticise the team, but also guide us on how to improve,” he noted. “Recently, during the Champions Trophy, Wasim Akram gave us advice. I wanted to speak with him more, but there wasn’t enough time.”

He acknowledged the fans’ frustration over the team’s underperformance, stating that their anger was understandable.

Addressing the constant scrutiny, he added, “The most successful people in the world were once called mad before others followed them. Those who can’t handle criticism achieve nothing.”