Mohammad-Rizwan. (Photo Source: Twitter)
For Pakistani cricketers, defeating arch-rivals India in a World Cup match is more than just a game, it’s a moment of national pride and memory. Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter, Mohammad Rizwan recently opened up about the extraordinary aftermath of their historic T20 World Cup 2021 victory against the Men in Blue.
The Men in Green had defeated India only once in World Cup history across both formats before the 2021 T20 World Cup. India had won seven times against Pakistan in T20 World Cups and remained unbeaten on eight occasions in the 50-over format. The weight of this longstanding rivalry made Pakistan’s 10-wicket triumph over India in Dubai all the more special.
Recalling the build-up, Rizwan revealed how the then PCB chairman Ramiz Raja had spoken about the importance of beating India for the team’s psyche months before the tournament.
“We had never beaten India before that (in a World Cup). Ramiz Raja met us and said, you have to beat India. There was a long time to go for the World Cup when he first came in (as PCB president) but he had started developing this thought in the team from right then,” Rizwan said at an event in the USA as quoted by NDTV.
“As we got closer to the World Cup he said, regardless of whether you win the trophy or not, just don’t lose to India. He used to say don’t come under pressure, and then would put pressure on us,” he added.
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India vs Pakistan always comes with pressure: Mohammad Rizwan
Rizwan spoke on how Pakistan’s then coach Matthew Hayden gathered Rizwan and captain Babar Azam before the high-intensity clash to give them some motivation. Pakistan’s win triggered huge celebrations across the country with fans refusing to let Rizwan and his teammates pay for anything.
“India vs Pakistan always comes with pressure. People may not watch all matches in a tournament but this is a game everyone sits down to watch, regardless of which country they belong to. At the time we had Matthew Hayden with us. He put his arms around me and the captain and asked how we are feeling. The captain said that we have worked hard and now we leave it all in the hands of God,” Rizwan said.
“For me, it was all a first, whether it be playing in a World Cup or in such a big match. So I was feeling quite normal, I didn’t think this was any different from any other match. But when we won, that is when I realised what we achieved. In Pakistan, say I go for shopping somewhere, people won’t take money. Then I stopped going out for shopping because they just weren’t taking money from us, they were all commending us for beating India. Everyone I met was commending us for the win. Once when I went to someone’s room they had the match playing on television and said that they watch it every day,” he concluded.
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In the 2024 edition, both sides are yet again placed in a similar group and will square off against each other on June 09 at the newly built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.