Asked Pakistan coach to drop me: Mohammad Rizwan on not playing New Zealand Test series amidst poor form

Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has revealed that he asked to be dropped by the team from the Test series against New Zealand.

Mohammad Rizwan reveals that he asked to be dropped by the Pakistan team. (AP Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan revealed that he wanted the team to drop him from the 2-Test match series against New Zealand after a run of poor form. Rizwan had been called out by several former Pakistan players after the whitewash against England and did not play the subsequent Test series against Pakistan.

The batter was replaced by former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed who made a comeback in the Test team at the ripe age of 35. Ahmed did sensationally well in the Test series, hitting 335 runs from just 2 matches. He scored half centuries in three innnings, while hit a century in one of them.

Rizwan, speaking to Cricket Pakistan website said that he had gone to the coach Saqlain Mushtaq himself and asked to get dropped from the Test team.

“You can ask the head coach Saqlain Mushtaq what I told him after the end of the England Test series. I was happy to see Sarfaraz perform because that is what I wanted. I personally thought that since I wasn’t able to perform, I didn’t deserve to play in the next series,” Rizwan said.

Speaking about the former Pakistan captain, Rizwan said that he eas elated with Sarfaraz’s success in the international format on comeback.

“Sarfaraz has been performing in domestic and deserves his chance now. So I was happy to see Sarfaraz perform because I asked for his inclusion. Whoever performs best for Pakistan deserves to play,” the player said ahead of the new season of PSL.

Pakistan have been poor in home Tests over the last season. After suffering series defeats from Australia and England, Pakistan failed to win any Test matches against New Zealand as well.