Darren Lehmann opens up on Mohammad Rizwan's omission from first Test
- By Web Desk -
- Dec 14, 2023
Legendary cricketer Darren Lehmann questioned the omission of wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan’s playing XI for the first Test against hosts Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
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Pakistan included Sarfaraz Ahmed instead of Mohammad Rizwan as the wicketkeeper for the crucial first Test.
The veteran campaigner did not have a so-so day as he took two catches but missed a stumping opportunity against David Warner.
It proved to be a costly mistake as the Southpaw scored a century to put Australia in a strong position in the fixture.
At the end of the day, Mohammad Rizwan was spotted having a keeping session on the sidelines of the fixture. Darren Lehmann spoke about his exclusion from the side on social media.
A Twitter user shared a picture of Mohammad Rizwan. He stated that many Pakistan fans feel that he should have playing in the series opener.
In keeping with how these things go, the wicket-keeper that a lot of Pakistan feels should have been keeping wickets in Perth today, Muhammad Rizwan, has a keeping session at the end of the first day’s play #AusvPak pic.twitter.com/AkMWIhS9VR
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 14, 2023
Darren Lehman replied by saying, “Why is he not.”
Why is he not 🤷♂️
— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) December 14, 2023
It is pertinent to mention that Australia glided to 346-5 after 84 overs at stumps on day one of the series opener on the back of opener David Warner’s century.
The left-handed batter brushed aside any doubts with a brutal 164-run assault.
The 37-year-old, who intends to retire from tests after the third and final game in Sydney, combined with Usman Khawaja (41) in a 126-run opening stand to get the hosts off to a strong start after winning the toss.
A delightful uppercut for four in the 43rd over saw the Southpaw bring up a breezy 125-ball hundred, his 26th in tests, prompting a trademark celebratory leap and a cheeky ‘shush’ towards the media box.
Related – Mohammad Rizwan real match winner of Pakistan: Vikrant Gupta