Pakistani net bowler Nouman Khan Khaira is repeatedly beating Rizwan and Iftikhar with velocity and bounce in a video that has quickly gone viral.
Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed, batting stalwarts for Pakistan’s cricket team, are making headlines once more for all the wrong reasons. Following the nation’s group stage exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup, several former players, commentators, and fans have advocated for a massive reshuffling of the team, with many senior players being cut. While no big changes are expected, a video appeared on X showing Rizwan and Iftikhar laboring against a Pakistani net bowler during a practice session.Rizwan and Iftikhar are repeatedly trounced by pace and bounce in a video that has gone viral. However, the bowler is not Shaheen Shah Afridi or Naseem Shah, but rather local bowler Nouman Khan Khaira.
— Umar (@umartweets_) July 5, 2024
Rizwan’s form was inconsistent in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Even though he ended up scoring the second-most runs for Pakistan, his strike rate at bat was a dismal 90. Most notably, despite being well-positioned throughout the run chase, Rizwan was unable to lead Pakistan to victory against India.
Iftikhar, however, was left out of the starting lineup after scoring just 23 runs in just two games.
Pakistan’s early withdrawal
Pakistan lost their first two matches in the 2024 T20 World Cup, first to arch-rivals India and then to co-hosts the United States. They were eliminated from the competition at the group stage. Following the announcement of the results, Pakistan Cricket Board head Mohsin Naqvi promised a “major surgery” and many criticized Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and the team as a whole.
Nonetheless, it appears from recent reports that Naqvi is unlikely to make significant adjustments to stay out of trouble with the more experienced players.
