Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan was the highest run-scorer in the last night thriller against Australia at the T20 World Cup 2021. The Pakistan team management has confirmed that Rizwan had spent two nights in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before being named in the playing XI.
They speculated the illness as ‘mild flu’ but it turned out to be a ‘severe chest infection,’ team doctor Najeeb Somroo revealed in his statement.
“Mohammad Rizwan developed a severe chest infection on November 9th after which he was admitted to the hospital. He spent two nights in the ICU recovering,” Somroo said in the press conference.
“He made an incredible recovery and was deemed fit before the match. 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.
“The decision regarding his health was made by the whole team management. This was regarding the morale of the whole team and therefore we kept it within the team,” he added.
Despite being ill, Rizwan scored 67 off 52 with the help of seven boundaries and took Pakistan to a fighting total of 176 along with Fakhar Zaman (55 not out of 32).
After the match, batting coach Matthew Hayden hailed Rizwan as a ‘warrior’ and said that he was brilliant throughout the campaign. He also called him courageous’ for his unbelievable comeback for the semifinal.
Rizwan scored 281 runs in six innings of the 2021 T20 World Cup, making him the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament after his skipper Babar Azam. The right-hand batter also became the first player to score 1000 runs in T20 internationals in a calendar year.
Pakistan’s campaign at the T20 World Cup ended with a dramatic defeat against Australia. The Men in Green will next play a three-match T20I series against hosts Bangladesh.
