NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has expressed his happiness over Mohammad Rizwan’s appointment as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. The 32-year-old wicketkeeper-batter started his captaincy tenure on a winning note, leading Pakistan to a historic series victory in Australia during a three-match ODI series.
After losing the opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground by two wickets, Pakistan made a strong comeback with commanding victories in the Adelaide and Perth ODIs, sealing the series 2-1. This marked Pakistan’s first series win in Australia since 2002.
Haider, who represented Pakistan in one Test, four ODIs and three T20Is between 2007 and 2010, compared Rizwan’s captaincy style to that of India’s legendary skipper MS Dhoni.
Rizwan was appointed Pakistan’s white-ball captain ahead of the tour of Australia.
“A wicketkeeper-captain is a big help for a team. MS Dhoni is the prime example. Adam Gilchrist was there, and Kumar Sangakkara was there too. A wicketkeeper is the only player in the playing eleven who has a 360-degree view of the field. He can assist the bowler in setting the field. Rizwan is doing the same. He is an effective batter, a good wicketkeeper, and now, a captain. This can help the team immensely. We saw that in Australia, where he played a big role in the team’s win. Pakistan should have taken this step a long time ago,” Haider told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.
“Rizwan is following in Dhoni’s footsteps. If you look closely, the way he sets the field, guides the bowlers and encourages players, he gives a glimpse of the legendary Dhoni. Now that Rizwan is the captain, the boys need to be on the same page and support him. Pakistan needs to back Rizwan the way Team India supported Dhoni,” he added.
Haider also emphasised how Babar has benefited from relinquishing the captaincy.
“Babar Azam was overburdened — first with the captaincy, then the team’s performance, and finally his batting. The moment he gave up captaincy, his batting improved. Now we can see him playing freely, without any burden. This can happen to any player; it happened with Virat Kohli too. So we need to support players of such stature. Rizwan and Babar are good friends, and they complement each other well,” Haider said.
The series also highlighted the brilliance of Pakistan’s pacer Haris Rauf, who claimed 10 wickets in three matches, including a five-wicket haul. Haris earned two ‘Player of the Match’ awards and was named ‘Player of the Series’ for his outstanding performance.
Haider credited Haris’ growth as a bowler to his experience of bowling against Virat Kohli during the 2022 T20 World Cup. Kohli had hit two memorable sixes off Haris in a crucial over, helping India secure a four-wicket win.
“Haris Rauf is a mature and experienced bowler. He has taken his game to another level, and time and again, he has proved himself. The over he bowled to Virat Kohli — I am sure he learned a lot from that. Bowling to Virat has made Haris Rauf a more mature bowler. That was a huge learning curve in his career, and I am certain he took many lessons from that match,” Haider said.
“Haris was trolled, but he didn’t give up and came back stronger. His form against Australia was commendable, and it was great to see him back in superb touch,” he added.
‘LET’S KEEP POLITICS ASIDE’
Haider also voiced his thoughts on India-Pakistan cricket relations and the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
“India should come to Pakistan. Let’s forget everything and start afresh,” he said.
“Fans love India vs Pakistan cricket matches more than anything else in this world. Let’s love the game, not politics. Politics shouldn’t come between players and the sport. This will help cricket grow. I request both the BCCI and PCB to bridge the gap and play cricket the way we used to,” Haider signed off.
