Why is Mohammad Rizwan not playing today’s 1st Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi?

During the first day of the first Test match of New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan 2022 in Karachi, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has won the toss and chose to bat after four consecutive Test defeats at home.

Expected to be a good pitch for batting especially on the first two days, Azam’s decision is justified in the hope of Pakistan wanting to put a formidable first innings total in front of the Black Caps.

Yet to win a home Test in 2022, Pakistan will step on the field at the National Stadium wanting to turn the tables in what is going to be the last match of the year for them.

New Zealand, meanwhile, will finally be playing a Test match in Pakistan after more than a couple of decades. The historic match will also kick-start (hopefully) a special era for them under recently elected captain Tim Southee.

Why is Mohammad Rizwan not playing today vs New Zealand?

Pakistan have made a total of three changes to their Playing XI for this match. Former captain Azhar Ali, vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf have had to make way for opening batter Imam-ul-Haq, former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and pacer Mir Hamza. Readers must note that the new selection committee will have a say in Pakistan’s Playing XIs from now on.

While Ali has retired from international cricket, Rizwan has been dropped following mediocre returns (262 runs in 12 innings at an average of 21.83 since last century) in the format lately. A highly debatable decision due to Rizwan’s overall potential, it has paved way for Ahmed’s international comeback after 13 months. As far as Test cricket is concerned, Ahmed will be adding to his 49 Test appearances after almost four years.

Ahmed, who has been in some form in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, was being publicly backed by his fans during the third Test against England at the same venue a week ago. With him getting to play a match now as Rizwan’s replacement, the 35-year old player will be desperate to leave a mark right away.

Hamza, on the other hand, is playing his second Test match after a four-year gap. Having come in place of Ashraf, Pakistan would be hoping to reap fruits by playing a specialist second fast bowler in Hamza.

Playing a Test match for the first time in the last six months, New Zealand have made a couple of changes to their Playing XI which had participated in the Headingley Test in June. Bolstering their spin-bowling division, the Kiwis have included Ish Sodhi and Ayaz Patel in place of batter Will Young and pacer Trent Boult.

Playing a batter less will witness batter Devon Conway opening the batting in this format for the first time since ICC World Test Championship final in Southampton last year.