SportsAustraliaCricketPakistanUAE

‘Warrior’ Mohammad Rizwan gets ‘Massive Respect’: from ICU to half-century in PAK vs AUS semi-final

Mohammad Rizwan ‘spent two nights in ICU’ before the ICC T20 World Cup semi-final, Pakistan’s team doctor has revealed that Rizwan developed a “severe chest infection” on November 9

Cricket figures and fans have hailed wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan as a “warrior” after officials revealed he was in hospital with a severe chest infection before taking the field to score a brave half-century in defeat to Australia at the T20 World Cup.

Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan with 67 from 52 balls in Thursday’s semi-final in Dubai to help the Green Shirts post 176, but Australia reeled in the runs to reach Sunday’s final against New Zealand.

The team doctor said Rizwan was admitted to hospital on Tuesday and spent two nights in Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“He made an incredible recovery and was deemed fit before the match,” doctor Najeebullah Soomro said.

“We can see his great determination and tenacity that shows his spirit of performing for the country. And we can see how he performed today.”

Opener Rizwan showed no sign of illness, clubbing four sixes and three fours before falling to paceman Mitchell Starc.

Captain Babar Azam, who opened the batting with Rizwan, said the 29-year-old was a “little bit down” before the match.

“But when I asked him about his health he said, ‘no, I will play,’” said Babar.

During his innings, Rizwan became the first player to score 1,000 runs in T20 internationals in a calendar year.

Scoring 281 for the tournament at an average of 70.25, Rizwan is second only to Babar (303) on the World Cup runs list.

Calling him a “Hero”, he wrote: “Can you imagine this guy played for his country today [and] gave his best.

“He was in the hospital last two days. Massive respect @iMRizwanPak. Hero.”

Senior commentator Melinda Farrell also showed concern for Rizwan’s health. “This is just unbelievable,” she wrote on Twitter.

“I hope Rizwan is ok. Incredibly, he did what he did last night.”

After the match, Rizwan tweeted, “Diya jalaye rakhna hai (have to keep the lamp burning).”

“This is a warrior,” said Pakistan batting coach Matthew Hayden, the former Australia Test opener.

“He has been brilliant through [the tournament] and he’s got great courage, as has Babar. Fantastic tonight from him.”

Prior to the match, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had not shared the full extent of Rizwan’s illness and said only that the wicketkeeper-batsman and his teammate Shoaib Malik had displayed symptoms of cold and had fever but were declared fit after feeling better.

When the details were shared, sportspersons and fans alike took to Twitter to express their admiration and respect for Rizwan — whose name was among the top 10 trends on the social media site.

“This is unreal. No wonder Matthew Hayden called him a warrior. Huge respect for Mohammad Rizwan who spent two nights before the #T20WorldCup semi-final in ICU – then top-scored with 67!” tweeted Cricket Australia.

Moreover, Rizwan was not only ill but he was also hit on the helmet by a bouncer during the semi-final clash, however, the star player still managed to score an impressive half-century.

Former MIT Professor and Ex-Chairman PITB Umer Sharif wrote: “For me, Rizwan defined the spirit of Pakistan Cricket. He was in the ICU for 2 days but played today; hit on the face with a bouncer but went on to be the top scorer; kept the wickets with a vicious bruise on the face.”

Sharing a video of the team doctor talking about Rizwan’s illness, the Punjab chief minister’s focal person for digital media, Azhar Mashwani, simply wrote: “Love you.”

https://twitter.com/MashwaniAzhar/status/1458884228142272514
Source
News and Agencies

Leave a Reply

Related Articles

Back to top button