We're not out of it yet: Rizwan

Express Tribune

01-05-2025

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan says that he wanted take the game deep with Saud Shakeel but shot selection let them down. Photo: ICC
In one of the most one-sided matches of HBL PSL 10 so far, Quetta Gladiators bulldozed Multan Sultans by 10 wickets on Tuesday at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium — chasing down a paltry 90-run target with a jaw-dropping 79 balls to spare.
Despite the humiliation, Multan captain Mohammad Rizwan remained composed in the post-match presser, brushing off talk of a bad pitch and instead taking responsibility for what he described as "poor shot selection."
"I don't think the pitch was that bad — it was challenging, but definitely a 150-160 kind of surface," Rizwan said. "Credit to their bowlers for sticking to the right lengths and executing well," he added.
Rizwan, who top-scored with 44, carried Multan's innings on his shoulders after the top order crumbled under pressure.
Multan was reduced to 12-2 inside the first two overs and never recovered. Khurram Shahzad wreaked havoc with a brilliant opening spell, removing Yasir Khan, Usman Khan, Kamran Ghulam, and Curtis Campher in quick succession.
Things went from bad to worse as Faheem Ashraf chipped in with two wickets, including the key dismissal of Iftikhar Ahmed for just six. The Sultans were eventually bundled out for a meagre 89 in just 17 overs, with Rizwan remaining not out on 44.
Quetta's response was pure dominance. Finn Allen and Saud Shakeel made short work of the chase.
Allen smashed 45 off just 21 balls, including two sixes and a four in one over off David Willey, while Shakeel calmly stroked his way to an unbeaten 42. By the end of the powerplay, the Gladiators were cruising at 74-0, and Allen fittingly ended the game with a towering six off Usama Mir.
This commanding win marks Quetta's fourth in the tournament, bolstering their playoff hopes. Multan, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle.
"We're not out of it yet," Rizwan said.
"But I don't like relying on other teams to help us qualify. We have to win our games now," he concluded.
With playoffs approaching fast, the pressure is squarely on Rizwan and his Sultans to turn their campaign around — before it's too late.