'I don't know what's happening between Pakistan and India,' says Rizwan

Multan Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan believes that politics should have no place in cricket, saying he remains unaware of Pakistan-India matters because he doesn't follow social media. This comes amid tensions between Pakistan and India following the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 people.

Speaking to the media in Lahore on Thursday, Rizwan said, "When we meet players like Virat Kohli and Joe Root, we meet as a cricket family. We learn from them, and we also share our knowledge with them."

Commenting on team selection, he stated that the process varies depending on the conditions, adding that all teams have opted for spinners in the tournament. "We are out of the tournament, and we deserved to be. Mistakes were made. We couldn't gain momentum in fielding," he admitted.

Addressing the pressure that comes with leadership, Rizwan said, "If I say I don't feel [under] pressure, that would be a lie. There is pressure when you represent Pakistan and lead the team. People are watching. The same goes for Multan Sultans. We must accept the pressure and work on correcting our mistakes."

He also addressed the debate around modern cricket styles, stating, "People say we should play modern-day cricket, but what about the conditions? Sometimes, in T20s here, it feels like playing a Test match." Giving the example of the T20 World Cup, he highlighted that the team "struggled to chase even 120. We shouldn't copy others; instead, we should focus on what the conditions demand."

Speaking about other teams in the PSL, he noted, "Lahore Qalandars have their own energy, Quetta has built strong momentum, and Karachi and Islamabad have built excellent teams."

When asked about Babar Azam and Peshawar Zalmi, Rizwan responded warmly, saying, "Babar Azam's Peshawar Zalmi needs prayers, and I'll be praying for them. If we had taken our catches, we wouldn't be in this situation today."

It merits mention that Multan Sultans have been eliminated from the race for the PSL 10 trophy.