Mohammad Rizwan shares strategy, confirms opener for Champions Trophy

Pakistan cricket team captain Mohammad Rizwan has expressed confidence in his team's chances at the ICC Champions Trophy. He also confirmed that Babar Azam will open the innings.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Karachi, Rizwan said, "We are optimistic about winning the Champions Trophy. Babar Azam is our strongest player for the opening slot, and he will open the innings, but it is not necessary for him to do so against New Zealand."

The captain provided an update on pacer Haris Rauf, who was injured during the recent tri-series, clarifying that "Haris is bowling with full energy in practice. He has declared himself fit and assured us that he is not experiencing any discomfort while bowling."

Rizwan also emphasised the importance of teamwork and shared responsibility among all players. "We are playing as a team, and for me, all 15 players are captains. But senior players carry more responsibility for performance. We have different options, and we make decisions based on conditions. We are working on correcting our mistakes."

The Pakistan captain also highlighted the significance of hosting an ICC event after nearly three decades. "Pakistan is hosting an ICC event after 29 years. During this time, we have achieved many successes. We have won the Champions Trophy and have been the number-one Test team. There should be no doubts about our abilities. The entire nation should enjoy the Champions Trophy," he said.

Discussing team strategy, Rizwan stated, "On match day, we focus on eliminating any shortcomings. We are in learning mode, and our playing XI will be selected according to home conditions."

Defending the decision to bat first in the tri-series final against New Zealand despite the loss, he explained, "We chose to bat first in the final to identify our weaknesses. We targeted our shortcomings in that game and hope to correct them in the upcoming matches. Moving forward, we need to play our best cricket."

Acknowledging areas for improvement, Rizwan noted, "In some areas, we need to improve our professionalism. In the future, we need a full-time opener. There are players in Pakistan from whom we have high expectations."

When asked about any potential surprises in the upcoming match, he responded, "No player can be perfect. We don't plan on doing anything drastically different in tomorrow's match."

Pakistan lost two matches against New Zealand in the tri-series, including the final. Their first match of the Champions Trophy will also be against the Kiwis tomorrow (Wednesday).