Rizwan admits he "didn't deserve to play” against New Zealand

Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan said he “didn't deserve to play” in the two-match Test series against New Zealand. The 30-year-old was dropped from the red-ball set-up as Pakistan got Sarfaraz Ahmed back in the squad.

In his last six Tests, Rizwan only managed 262 runs at a mediocre average of 21.83, not scoring a single fifty across 12 innings. 

"You can ask the head coach Saqlain Mushtaq what I told him after the end of the England Test series. I personally thought that since I wasn't able to perform, I didn't deserve to play in the next series,” Rizwan told Cricket Pakistan in an interview.

Making his comeback after close to four years, Sarfaraz smashed 335 runs in four innings at a stunning average of 83.75, studded with three fifties and a century. 

"I was happy to see Sarfaraz perform because that is what I wanted. Sarfaraz has been performing in domestic and deserves his chance now. I asked for his inclusion. Whoever performs best for Pakistan deserves to play,” said Rizwan.

"Some players said that every player goes through this phase and you can't sit on the bench based on few failures. 

"But I went to the coach and captain myself and told them that you can drop me because I haven't performed. Two players are witnesses to this conversation."