A video clip showing a Pakistani TV host ridiculing national cricket team captain Mohammad Rizwan’s English speaking ability has gone viral on social media, with former cricketers Mohammad Amir, Ahmed Shehzad, and Rashid Latif seen laughing along.
In the video, TV presenter Tabish Hashmi is heard saying, “He represents 25 crore people. We expect our representative to speak well, look presentable, and make sense, in addition to playing fearless and honest cricket. When I watch my captain Mohammad Rizwan in press conferences, I’m not asking him to speak in English. He can speak Urdu, but he should at least be coherent. What is this ‘sometimes you win, or you learn. Sometimes it’s cramp, sometimes it’s acting’?” Amir is shown trying to suppress his laughter, while Latif is smiling, and Ahmed Shehzad bursts out laughing after hearing the impersonation.
The TV segment has been met with criticism online.
Earlier, Pakistani captain Mohammad Rizwan conveyed his ‘disappointment’ following the team’s elimination from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Pakistan’s campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 concluded at the bottom of Group A after their final group match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
Having already been eliminated from semi-final contention after defeats to New Zealand and India, the team led by Mohammad Rizwan finished the tournament with just one point, placing them last in Group A.
Reflecting on their performance, the Men in Green captain acknowledged that the team’s composition was disrupted by injuries to Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman.
‘We aimed to perform well and meet the high expectations of our nation. Our performance was disappointing for us,’ Rizwan stated, as reported by ICC.
‘The team’s balance, built over the last few months in Australia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, was disrupted by the sudden injury. While team imbalance is not an excuse, the injuries to Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub are a learning experience,’ Rizwan elaborated.
When questioned about his satisfaction with Pakistan’s bench strength, Rizwan emphasized the need for further development, particularly within the domestic cricket system.
‘We are striving for improvements across various aspects. To elevate Pakistan’s cricketing standards, we need greater awareness and professionalism. We see glimpses of this in the Champions Cup, but further enhancement is necessary,’ the 32-year-old commented.
