Rizwan unhappy with his new batting position
Mohammad Rizwan
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Mohammad Rizwan, wicketkeeper-batsman for Pakistan, stated he is not pleased with being dropped down the order to number five for the first two One-Day Internationals against New Zealand and wants to move back up a slot.
Although the 30-year-old has claimed the number four position as his own since 2019, where he also scored both of his ODI hundreds, Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique were given the opportunity to bat there in the first two games of the five-match series.
Rizwan said he did not want to stay in the finisher's position, despite the fact that at five he has excelled in it and helped his team win both games.
"If you ask me honestly, I am not happy batting at number five (in ODIs), because I want to bat at number four," he told a news conference on Monday.
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"But it is not important that I get what I want. The captain and coach will do what they like. It is my own wish to bat at number four. But I have not complained to anyone" he added.
Rawalpindi hosted the first two ODIs but the series now switches to Karachi for the remaining three. The teams are scheduled to resume the series with game three on Wednesday.
The tourists also trailed the preceding Twenty20 series 2-0 before fighting back for a 2-2 draw and Rizwan said Pakistan must not get complacent.
"We want to forget the past, the good and the bad," Rizwan said.
"The conditions and requirements in Rawalpindi were different. We will assess and adapt and look to win the series. That will be our focus."
