Pakistan's ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan has opted to play club cricket instead of participating in the National T20 Championship, organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). His decision has sparked controversy, with former cricketer Sikandar Bakht strongly criticizing national players who are skipping domestic tournaments despite receiving high salaries.

Reports suggest that Rizwan, who recently returned from Mecca after performing Umrah decided to relax and play club cricket over National T20 Championship before heading to New Zealand for the three-match ODI series. However, this move did not gone down well with Bakht

Speaking to Geo Super, Bakht he said, "They are employees of the Pakistan Cricket Board. They get 60 lakh per month, so they must play in the tournaments the PCB is organising. They have to make sure that players are available. If you are playing club cricket and not playing the tournament the board has organised, it means you are insulting the PCB,"

Bakht also suggested cancelling their central contracts if they refuse to participate. “The board needs to ensure players are available. Mohsin Naqvi must be stricter in his approach; if needed, he should cancel their contracts,”

Rizwan to lead Pakistan in ODI series in New Zealand

Rizwan retained the ODI captaincy despite a poor Champions Trophy campaign and will lead the Men in Green in the three-match ODI series. The three ODIs will be played on March 29, April 2 and 5.

Rizwan-led Pakistan had a forgettable run in the 2025 Champions Trophy and the hosts made group stage exit. They suffered a defeat against New Zealand in the first game of the tournament.

The defeat at the hands of India marked an end to their campaign. Pakistan's match against Bangladesh was washed out due to rain.