Mohammad Rizwan and Mohsin Naqvi (Source: AFP)
The Pakistan Super League 2026 has brought both excitement and challenges, especially for the newly formed franchise Rawalpindiz. Led by Mohammad Rizwan, the team entered the tournament with high expectations after being introduced as part of the league's expansion from six to eight teams earlier this year.
Amid the team's poor start, a fresh controversy has put captain Mohammad Rizwan in the spotlight.
Owned by Walee Technologies, the Rawalpindiz became the most expensive franchise in PSL history after being acquired for PKR 2.45 billion.
The team was formed following the rebranding and acquisition of the Multan Sultans rights in February 2026, with Mohammad Rizwan retained as captain under the Platinum category.
However, their on-field performance has not lived up to the early hype. The Rawalpindiz have lost both of their opening matches and currently sit near the bottom of the points table with zero points and a net run rate of -0.556.
Despite posting a huge total of 214/4 in their match 1, they failed to defend it against Peshawar Zalmi. In their second game, they suffered a five-wicket defeat against Karachi Kings.
Mohammad Rizwan under fire after owner's social media activity
It is important to note that Captain Rizwan has been in the news again, but this time for the wrong reason. A viral social media post accused Rizwan of favouritism toward Pashtun players, claiming that several talented youngsters were not being given fair opportunities.
The post specifically mentioned that players like Abdullah Fazal and Saad Masood were being underutilised, while the top order was dominated by Mohammad Rizwan's preferred group.
The controversy gained traction when Gohar Shah, the franchise owner and CEO, appeared to ‘like’ the post on social media.
Social Media controversy involving owner Gohar Shah and Mohammad Rizwan
"Rizwan has insane bias for Pashtun players. Youngster Abdullah Fazal is made to bat at 6 when his strength is his spin game. While top 3 is occupied by his mates. Also 5 out of 7 players in playing XI are pashtun. Youngster like Saad Masood and Fazal not given proper chance" the Tweet stated.
The fan who originally posted the comment later shared a screenshot of the like of the owner. Some even suggested that the Multan Sultans were better off after Rizwan's departure.
Check the Tweet here:
So far, neither Rizwan nor the franchise management has issued an official statement addressing this matter.
Mohammad Rizwan reflects on team's performance
After the defeat against the Karachi Kings on April 2, Mohammed Rizwan said poor fielding, rather than bowling, cost the team the match. He stated that dropped catches, including missed opportunities against players like Azam Khan, were turning points in the game.
Talking about the match, Rawalpindiz posted a competitive 197/6, thanks to strong performances from Daryl Mitchell and Sam Billings.
However, Karachi chased down the target comfortably, led by captain David Warner and Azam Khan. However, it is worth noting that David Warner will fly home before the next match.
Rizwan emphasised that the bowling unit improved from the previous game, but fielding lapses proved too costly to overcome. His remarks suggest that the team is still searching for the right balance and consistency.
On a personal level, Rizwan has had a decent start to PSL 2026. In two matches, he has scored 62 runs at a strike rate of 137.77 and an average of 31.00.
Also Read: Today IPL Match Prediction- CSK Vs PBKS, Who Will Win IPL 2026 Match 7?
