Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan played the perfect supporting role for opener Fakhar Zaman as the hosts pulled off their highest ODI run chase on April 29. Rizwan scored an unbeaten 54 and shared an unbeaten 119-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Zaman in the run chase against Kiwis. Despite a match-winning effort, Rizwan is unhappy about his batting position in the format and wants a promotion.
"If you ask me honestly, I am not happy batting at number five [in ODIs], because I want to bat at number four," Rizwan expressed at the press conference as quoted by ICC.
"But it is not important that I get what I want. The captain and coach will do what they like. It is my own wish to bat at number four. But I have not complained to anyone. I have been sacrificing for the last 15 or 16 years and still not complaining. We are ready to do what the captain and coach ask us to do."
Rizwan has established himself as an opener in T20Is. However, he has batted at several positions in ODIs from middle order to lower middle order. At no.4, he has scored 742 runs from 20 innings at an average of 43.64 including two centuries and five half-centuries. On the other hand, at no.5, he has scored 202 runs from eight innings at an average of 33.66 including two half-centuries.
Before the ODI series against Tom Latham-led side, his ODI numbers at no.5 were ordinary. In the first two ODIs, he has contributed with unbeaten 42 and 54 in successful run chases.
With two wins in the five-ODI series already, Rizwan is hopeful that the Babar Azam-led side will seal the series in the third ODI at National Stadium, Karachi.
"Every game is important to us," Rizwan noted. "We want to forget the past, the good and the bad. The conditions and requirements in Rawalpindi were different. We will assess and adapt [to the conditions of Karachi] and look to win the series. That will be our focus," the 30-year-old concluded.
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