Demand from me is to play cricket, not to speak English: Rizwan on getting mocked for his English

Pakistan ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan has hit out at his detractors who criticize him for not speaking English by saying that he is cricketer and not some English professor.

Rizwan has been trolled on social media for his spoken English. Various clips and videos of his post- and pre-match interactions have gone viral, leading to trolls mocking him.

“I regret not completing my education, which is why I don’t know English, but I am not ashamed that as Pakistan’s captain, I cannot speak English,” Rizwan said while replying to a question.

“The demand from me is to play cricket, not to speak English. If Pakistan wanted English, I would become a professor, learn it, and return. But Pakistan asks me for cricket, not English,” he added.

Barring their chaotic campaigns in the past ICC tournaments, Pakistan were truly exposed in the Champion Trophy organised on their home turf. The party organisers were the first to crash out of the tournament following back-to-back defeats against New Zealand and India, ending their title defence in the group stage.

After the Champions Trophy debacle, Pakistan toured New Zealand for five T20Is and three ODIs while keeping the 2026 and 2027 World Cups in the back of their minds. With a couple of new faces, Pakistan succumbed to a 4-1 series defeat but remained optimistic, hoping to bounce back in the three ODIs.

Rizwan and Babar Azam, among the notable absentees in the T20Is, returned to the squad, but Pakistan’s fate remained intact. An inexperienced New Zealand side whitewashed Pakistan by orchestrating a 3-0 series triumph.

Pakistan suffered a lot of backlash after their unimpressive run. Amid the heavy criticism from fans and former cricketers, Rizwan urged the critics to offer solutions and guide them through the turbulent phase, leading to their improvement.

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

Rizwan acknowledged that fans have the right to be upset when the team fails to deliver and added, “Fans are justified in their anger, and they’ve all the right to be upset at us because they also love us. But the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has given so much to Pakistan. Now it’s time to enjoy the league.”