Mohammad Rizwan predicted he would win Man of the Match award in semi-final over WhatsApp text, reveals his agent

Mohammad Rizwan: (Image Source: Twitter)

The world’s number two batter in the shortest format, Mohammad Rizwan failed to hit the straps at the Super 12 stage of the 20-20 World Cup 2022. In 5 matches, he had only managed to score 103 runs. However, Pakistan still managed to reach the semi-finals and Rizwan had one more chance to prove his mettle on the biggest stage.

Much to the surprise of many, ahead of the semi-final match against New Zealand, Rizwan had already predicted that he would earn the Man of the Match award for his performance in the crucial encounter. For the unversed, the Pakistani wicket-keeper batter has a habit of sending a note to his agent, friend, and mentor, Talha Ramani, ahead of important games. He would predict his fate before the start of the game.

Prior to the start of the semi-final encounter, Rizwan sent a WhatsApp note to his friend, which read ‘MoM, today’ (Man of the Match). As it turned out, the 30-year-old produced a match-winning knock of 57 runs in just 43 balls, helping Pakistan secure a 7-wicket win. Rizwan earned a Man of the Match award for his performance.

Interestingly, it’s not the first time when Rizwan has made such a prediction prior to an important game. During a T20 series in New Zealand, the then coach Misbah Ul Haq told Rizwan to open the innings.

However, what followed was disappointing performances in the first two matches. Another failure would have led to Rizwan’s axe from the team. The selectors would have fallen back to Sarfaraz Khan to replace Rizwan. In an interaction with Indian Express, Rizwan’s agent and mentor Talha Rehmani revealed what Rizwan sent him a nigh before the match.

“He sent me a picture of something he wrote on a paper. It read: 76 not out. Man of the match. The 76 was crossed out and he had written on the side, ‘Allah, apni shaan ke mutaabiq de de! (Allah, you give according to your Greatness!) Rizwan made 89 that game, and hasn’t looked back since. That was probably his last chance, not just as an opener but possibly as a player in the white-ball format. And he has this strange confidence, moved by faith in his own skill, hard work and God. It’s a combination that has stood by him through all his lows in life.”

M Rizwan is, currently, Pakistan’s second-highest run-getter in the shortest format. In 79 matches, he has 2620 runs to his name at an average of 49.43. It will be interesting to see how he fares with the bat in the final of the 20-20 World Cup 2022.