Mohammad Rizwan To Be Punished By PCB Before Australia Series

Mohammad Rizwan [Source: AFP]

Mohammad Rizwan will likely receive a ‘punishment’ from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in light of the recently-concluded series. It is worth noting that the Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to face Australia at home for a three-match ODI series starting later this month.

Rizwan was part of the Pakistan side that recently lost a Test and ODI series to hosts Bangladesh over the course of the last two months. Following his lackluster returns with the bat, the senior wicketkeeper-batter will reportedly be getting dropped from the Australia ODIs.

Notably, Mohammad Rizwan has already lost his spot from Pakistan’s T20I side, considering the last time he represented his nation in the format was way back in December 2024.

Mohammad Rizwan in danger of losing his ODI spot

According to a Geo News report, Mohammad Rizwan will likely be dropped from the Pakistan side for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia. A couple of months ago, the 34-year-old managed to list just 58 runs in a three-match ODI series against hosts Bangladesh, which Pakistan went on to lose by a 1-2 margin.

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Rizwan also struggled to score freely at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy last year, and in Pakistan’s subsequent away ODI series against New Zealand and West Indies. While he found some rhythm in a home series against Sri Lanka back in November last year, his bat once again went silent in the ODIs against Bangladesh.

Already out of contention from Pakistan’s T20I setup, the senior wicketkeeper-batter is now in danger of losing his ODI spot too.

However, it remains to be seen whether the reported decision is driven by Rizwan’s recent dip in returns or merely intended to provide the senior batter some rest after a hectic international and PSL schedule.

The report also indicated that the PCB is considering the likes of Usman Khan or Saad Baig as potential replacements of Mohammad Rizwan.

Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub officially ruled out of Australia series

Rizwan’s possible exclusion aside, star opening batters Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub have officially been ruled out of the series against Australia. Both Fakhar and Ayub will be unavailable for selection owing to their respective injuries.

The two cricketers have been advised by the PCB to continue their rehabilitation programmes under the supervision of the board’s medical panel.

Fakhar’s injury comes is expected to be a major setback for the Pakistan team, considering the blistering opener was in prolific touch in the recently-concluded PSL 2026 season.

Australia to arrive on May 23

The Australian squad is excepted to land in Pakistan on Saturday, May 23 later this week. The two teams will be squaring off for a series of three matches between May 30 and June 4 in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

The series will serve as a testing ground for both sides in their road towards next year’s 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa.

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