During the ICC World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka, Pakistan’swicket-keeper batter, Mohammad Rizwan, battled cramps but managed to securehis third ODI century. In a playful moment during the post-matchpresentation, Rizwan even jokingly admitted to occasionally feigningcramps, blending a touch of humor with seriousness in his remarks.
However, former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir shed light on therationale behind Rizwan’s on-field theatrics. Amir explained that this is astrategic move by any cricketer to disrupt the opposition’s momentum andcreate a pause for contemplation.
“When the batsman is hitting you relentlessly, I also resort to someacting. After delivering a ball, I might take a leisurely stroll backtowards my run-up for the next delivery. This gives you a moment to gatheryour thoughts. If you get hit and instantly bowl the next ball, you don’thave time to strategize. So, it’s a way to break the rhythm,” Amir stated.
Additionally, Amir revealed that he used a deliberate tactic of slowingdown the game, especially when facing a new batsman, by delivering dotballs to prevent them from getting comfortable.
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“If a batsman is fresh at the crease, you aim to bowl dot balls to himquickly, not allowing him time to settle. Sometimes, I even tie myshoelaces in between deliveries to create a pause for reflection. These arestrategic maneuvers, which Rizwan has used astutely,” he added.
It’s worth noting that Rizwan achieved his third ODI century, taking 97balls, including seven fours and two sixes, and he was still at the creasewhen Pakistan successfully chased down a target of 345 against Sri Lanka,marking the highest run-chase in ODI World Cup history.