Karachi, March 7, 2026: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has dismissed reports suggesting that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is imposing fines on national players for their underwhelming performances at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, calling the claims unofficial and misleading.
Speaking on the sidelines of the national team’s training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre, Rizwan said he could only comment on penalties or fines if they were formally communicated by the PCB.
“Many people have asked me about this, and even players have been asked, but so far nothing official has come forward,” Rizwan told reporters. “If the PCB officially states that there is a fine or that management has imposed penalties, then I could comment on it. But since nothing official has been announced yet, these reports raise questions about how they are being presented.”
Rizwan’s remarks come ahead of Pakistan’s three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, scheduled from March 11 to 15 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, the team’s first international assignment after their T20 World Cup campaign.
The Green Shirts, coming off a 3-0 home series win over Sri Lanka in November 2025, have made notable squad changes. Star players, including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haseebullah, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, and Saim Ayub, were left out of the ODI squad.
When asked if these omissions were linked to T20 World Cup performances or the mixing of formats in evaluating players, Rizwan deferred to the selection committee.
“Such thoughts can come to anyone’s mind… if a player is dropped from ODIs due to T20 performances,” he said. “But I believe the selection committee can answer this better, because they know the thinking behind such decisions. I may not be fully aware of what happens in their meetings.”
The national team is now focused on preparing for the ODI series, with Rizwan and other senior players leading a revamped squad aiming to continue Pakistan’s strong run in limited-overs cricket.
