Sikander Bakht urges PCB to suspend Mohammad Rizwan's central contract

Former Pakistan Test cricketer Sikander Bakht has urged PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to take strict action against Mohammad Rizwan and call for his central contract to be suspended.

Speaking on a private TV channel, the former fast bowler stated, "Mohammad Rizwan is an employee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and receives a salary of PKR 6 million per month. Therefore, he should be obligated to participate in PCB-organised tournaments."

Bakht emphasised that the PCB must take control of the situation and ensure that contracted players are available for board-sanctioned events. He said, "If you are playing club cricket but refusing to participate in a PCB tournament, it means you are disrespecting the board."

The ex-cricketer further insisted that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi needs to take a firm stance on the matter. "This should not be happening. Mohsin Naqvi must act strictly. He needs to change his approach, investigate what is going on, and enforce discipline. The PCB should suspend their central contracts," he said.

Rizwan has already been under fire following Pakistan's poor performance in the ICC Men's Champions Trophy. The national team was eliminated in the group stage, leading to heavy criticism of the players. Additionally, Rizwan was dropped from Pakistan's T20I squad for the ongoing five-match series against New Zealand.