T20 World Cup: Mohammad Rizwan hailed for his grit and determination as his ICU images go viral

The
wicketkeeper-batsman
from
Pakistan
spent
two
days
in
the
ICU
before
getting
declared
fit
for
the
all-important
semi-final
of
the
showpiece
event
in
Dubai
on
Thursday
(November
11).

Several
cricketers
and
fans
hailed
the
talented
right-handed
batsman
for
his
fighting
spirit
after
his
ICU
images
started
viral
on
social
media.

Rizwan
–
who
had
been
pivotal
in
Pakistan’s
successful
run
in
the
showpiece
event
–
developed
a
severe
chest
infection
on
November
9
and
was
admitted
to
the
hospital.
The
decision
to
include
him
in
the
playing
eleven
in
the
semi-final
against
Australia
took
hours
before
the
toss
on
the
match
day.

Australia
vs
Pakistan:
Grit
of
Mohammad
Rizwan:
From
ICU
to
World
Cup
2021
semifinal

In
the
post-match
press
conference,
Pakistan
team
doctor
Najeeb
Somroo
revealed
Rizwan’s
medical
condition
before
the
match.

“Mohammad
Rizwan
developed
a
severe
chest
infection
on
the
9th
of
November
after
which
he
was
admitted
to
the
hospital.
He
spent
two
nights
in
the
ICU
recovering.
He
made
an
incredible
recovery
and
was
deemed
fit
before
the
match,”
said
Somroo.

“We
can
see
his
great
determination
and
tenacity
that
shows
his
spirit
of
performing
for
the
country.
And
we
can
see
how
he
performed
today,”
the
doctor
added.

In
the
match,
Rizwan
struck
his
third
half-century
of
the
tournament
before
Fakhar
Zaman
roared
back
to
form
with
a
32-ball
unbeaten
55
to
power
Pakistan
to
176
for
four.

Rizwan
(67
off
52)
and
his
opening
partner
Babar
Azam
(39
off
44)
shared
a
71-run
stand
before
Zaman
ended
the
innings
on
a
high
with
his
unbeaten
knock.
The
last
five
overs
yielded
59
runs
for
Pakistan.

Rizwan
did
not
look
at
his
best
early
on
and
Babar
took
the
lead
in
attacking
the
Australian
pace
attack.
The
right-handed
batsman,
who
was
dropped
twice
in
the
innings,
got
into
the
act
after
Babar’s
dismissal.

The
wicketkeeper
batter
grew
in
confidence
as
his
innings
progressed
and
once
he
got
his
trademark
half
full
half
sweep
shot
right
off
Hazlewood,
he
looked
much
more
dangerous.

Australia
did
well
from
overs
7-11,
conceding
only
28
before
Rizwan
changed
gears.
He
decided
to
take
the
attack
to
the
impressive
Zampa
in
the
12th,
which
went
for
14
runs
and
included
a
slog
sweep
for
six.
Rizwan
got
his
second
six
off
Hazlewood
two
overs
later,
dispatching
the
seasoned
pacer
over
deep
midwicket.

Pakistan,
however,
ended
up
losing
the
match
by
five
wickets
as
they
suffered
their
first
defeat
in
the
tournament
in
an
all-important
knockout
game.