Emerging Pakistani wicketkeeper batter Ghazi Ghori has clarified that Mohammad Rizwan remains the national team’s first-choice wicketkeeper despite recent changes in the ODI squad for the ongoing home series against Australia.
Ghori, who made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in March, retained his place in the squad and played a key role in Pakistan’s five-wicket win over Australia in the first ODI on Saturday. He scored an important half-century and shared a 127-run partnership that helped Pakistan chase 201.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the second ODI at Gaddafi Stadium, Ghori stressed that Rizwan still leads the pecking order as wicketkeeper batter.
“It’s not like I am replacing Rizwan bhai. He is our most senior player, and only he is our first-choice wicketkeeper,” Ghori said during a media briefing.
He credited the team management for supporting him during his early international exposure.
“Rest, I have been receiving significant support from the coach and the captain. When I played in Bangladesh, they advised me to stay prepared as I could be given an opportunity anytime and also that I must avail it,” he narrated.
Ghori also highlighted the influence of senior players in the dressing room, especially Babar Azam, during his match-defining partnership in the first ODI.
“It gives a lot of confidence when a senior player is already in the middle, and to bat alongside someone like Babar bhai, who has performed so well over the years, gives a different kind of confidence and eases the pressure a bit from the youngster,” he pointed out.
“Because as a senior player, he was dealing with the difficult tasks by himself and kept me at ease. So, when you’re batting alongside someone like Babar bhai, things get easier,” he added.
Rizwan was left out of the squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia, which continues until June 4. The selection committee included Rohail Nazir and Ghazi Ghori as wicketkeeping options as the team management looks to test combinations ahead of the next ODI World Cup cycle.
Rizwan, who led Pakistan to ODI series wins over Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa after taking over captaincy in late 2024, lost his place in the format following a lean run against Bangladesh earlier this year. He scored 54 runs in three innings at an average of 19.33.
The 33-year-old wicketkeeper batter also featured in a difficult away series in Bangladesh before his omission. His exclusion triggered speculation about his future in ODI cricket, although captain Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed the claims last week.
Despite recent setbacks, Rizwan remains one of Pakistan’s most experienced ODI performers. He has scored 2,979 runs in 94 innings at an average of 40.80, including four centuries and 19 half-centuries.
