Rizwan’s ‘Pakistan will enjoy’ PSL comment sparks controversy; journalists, fans slam team’s mindset: ‘Clownish stuff’

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan’s comment about using the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to provide some much-needed relief to the cricket fans in Pakistan after a few months of poor results for the national team has created a massive controversy back home.

Rizwan made the comments about leaving the recent poor results behind and enjoying the upcoming PSL 2025 immediately after the Pakistan cricket team suffered a 3-0 ODI series sweep at the hands of New Zealand away from home.

Rizwan talks about enjoying PSL immediately after ODI series loss

Rizwan admitted that the Pakistan team has failed to match the expectations of the fans and the players will now look to give them some happiness by doing well in the PSL.

“After the Champions Trophy and this series, we’ll leave the past. Now we are going to enjoy PSL because PSL is a big tournament for us in Pakistan, hopefully, our nation will enjoy," Rizwan said at the end of the ODI series. Hopefully, we’ll do well in PSL. Because we did not match the expectations of people."

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His comments though got lost in translation and have been perceived as the mentality of the team which doesn’t care about the national team and international cricket. Rizwan and the Pakistan cricket team have come under fire with journalists and fans slamming them for worrying about PSL and not the poor results in New Zealand.

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Besides losing the ODI series 3-0, Pakistan were also thrashed 4-1 by the New Zealanders in the T20I series. Pakistan also finished last in their group in the Champions Trophy which was played at their home.

Journalists, fans slam Rizwan over PSL comments

Reacting sharply to Rizwan’s comments, Syed Ali Imran said that the statement reflects the “mindset” of the team which doesn’t care for Pakistan cricket.

“Mohammad Rizwan’s statement on PSL overshadowing the embarrassing state of Pakistan cricket speaks volumes about the current mindset of our cricket. Enjoy karo bhai (Let’s enjoy brother). Yahan jo barbaad kar rahey hai un ko koi farak nahi parta.. tu ap, mein apna khoon kyun jalaye? (People who are destroyuing Paksitan cricket are not worries so why should be worry?) #PakistanCricket,” he wrote on X.

Another journalist Basit Subhani said that Pakistan cricket needs to get rid of such a mindset. “Rizwan’s statement sums up all what’s wrong with Pakistan Cricket. Sack such mindset,!” he said on X.

"We are going to enjoy PSL, it's a big tournament for us. We couldn't do well in Champions Trophy and in the series here. Hopefully we will do well in PSL."

Rizwan's statement sums up all what's wrong with Pakistan Cricket.
Sack such mindset! pic.twitter.com/GYszkstX2s

— Basit Subhani (@BasitSubhani) April 5, 2025

A fan criticised Rizwan for comparing international and domestic cricket: “Rizwan the failure captain comparing international cricket to a domestic league. Clownish stuff.”

"We will leave the past and look ahead to the PSL. Hopefully the nation will enjoy as we didn't give them the results."

Rizwan the failure captain comparing international cricket to a domestic league. Clownish stuff. pic.twitter.com/JYVxpBJi7G

— M (@anngrypakiistan) April 5, 2025

The 10th season of PSL starts on 11 April and this is the first time it will run simultaneously with the Indian Premier League (IPL).