Mohammad Rizwan gets backlash over controversial statement [Source: X]Amid the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan veteran Mohammad Rizwan have jumped into controversy because of a highly religious statement that he preached. At the Baitussalam Olympiad 2025 closing ceremony, at the presence of the media, Mohammad Rizwan was found promoting Islamic sentiments with a stern stance of his own. Rizwan, who was not selected for the T20 World Cup 2026 squad of Pakistan, has often been known to aggressively preach Islamic practice in the dressing room as quoted by Imam-ul-Haq once, who played under Rizwan. However, it was his recent speech that has now triggered massive unrest inside and across the borders as well. Mohammad Rizwan's Viral Comment On Muslim And Islamic SentimentAddressing a mass of people in front of him, during the public gathering, Mohammad Rizwan was extremely biased towards following the Islamic sentiments and how one can be a good Muslim. “We are here for a mission; Religion first, profession later. Muslims are brought into this world for leadership, not for servitude. Nobody ever stopped me from pursuing anything, and even though I chose to become a cricketer, my top priority will always remain the religion of Islam.Cricket Central @CricketCentrl 🚨 CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT BY MOHAMMAD RIZWAN 🚨 "We are here for a mission; religion first, profession later. Muslims are brought in this world for leadership not for servitude." Feb 18, 2026, 12:48 PM Cricket is an Extension of Islam's Khilafat movement. It doesn’t matter what profession you are in, a Mussalman is born for khilafat, not gulami,” Rizwan said.Netizens Slam Rizwan's StatementReeking of a strong and extreme religious affinity, Rizwan’s statement drew immediate backlash all over the internet and across social media platforms. Many users debated whether such remarks were appropriate from a national cricketer, especially during an ongoing ICC tournament in which Pakistan are competing without him. Let’s take a look at how the internet reacted to Mohammad Rizwan’s statement:Aryan Sharma @aryanthis_side Please, continue being like this. Never change. A mindset like this is the only reason why this country is a shithole. And I hope it remains one. काफ़िर 𑚊𑚭𑚟𑚷𑚮𑚤 @Bhatkihui_Aatma Rizwan is part time Cricketer Full time Radical I won't be surprised agar ye Kashmir me kisi encounter me Aalah ko pyara ho jaye 72 rooho ki lalak me #T20WorldCup VIPIN @VipinArnav_7 Cricket carrier is over, now way to terrorism. Walter Jr @kohlistansss Next imran khan काफ़िर 𑚊𑚭𑚟𑚷𑚮𑚤 @Bhatkihui_Aatma Kahan gaye wo sab jo kehte hai Pakistan me bhi humare jaise log hai Ye bilkul aap jaise honge jaise toh nahi hai Agree or Not Pakistan id Terrorist Machine, Koi Cricketer ho Scientists ho ya koi bhi inka ek hi Maksad hai Radicalism ko badhana! Vikram @vikyriky6063 It doesn’t matter what profession you are in, a Mussalman is born for khilafat, not gulami - Rizwan, Pak Cricketer And this speech is not given in a religious gathering to common people, see the audience, elite suited booted & seated in a fancy conference hall They are clear, Feb 18, 2026, 2:29 PM N.P. Ranjan 🇮🇳 @Ranjan_Narayan He is clear about being a maulana. Cricket is just by the way… chacha monk @oldschoolmonk Rizwan says ‘religion first, profession later.’ Everyone has this approach in Pakistan. That's the reason current Pakistan team is third class. Sonu Yadav @sonuyadavbhu27 Has bigoted Islamic supremacist ideology taken over Pakistani cricket? @sarayupani Kashif Aman Khoshwaqt @KhoshwaqtAman Good one. Indeed, the authorities should withdraw all the money from Rizwan, ban him from cricket, and appoint him as a leader of the Raiwand Tablighi Jamaat. Beshak, Islam ki khidmat cricket se pehle aati hai. A @UnscriptedViews Ye Maulana Rizwan future atankwadi hai. Likh ke lelo Feb 18, 2026, 2:55 PM How Rizwan Promotes Extreme Religiousness Rizwan has reportedly organised hotel rooms specifically for prayers during tours, gathering teammates for Namaz and spreading white sheets to maintain cleanliness for congregational prayers. It has also been revealed that he created WhatsApp groups for players to coordinate prayer timings while on tour. Teammate Imam-ul-Haq has previously shared that Rizwan arranges special religious sermons in team hotels and consistently encourages players to offer prayers five times a day. Rizwan is also frequently seen carrying a tasbeeh (prayer beads) in the dressing room, even during high-pressure matches, reinforcing his spiritual image. Rizwan’s personal philosophy appears to be rooted in a promise he once made to his father, that he would never compromise on his daily prayers for cricket. Controversies Related To Rizwan's Muslim PracticesHowever, this strong religious culture has not been free of controversy. Reports suggest that some board officials and players felt uncomfortable with the increasingly rigid environment in the dressing room. Speculation grew in late 2025 that this atmosphere may have contributed to his removal as Pakistan’s ODI captain, with management seeking what they described as a more “professional” culture within the team setup. His public displays of faith on the field have also drawn attention in the past. During the 2023 ODI World Cup match against the Netherlands, Mohammad Rizwan offered Namaz on the ground during a break. An Indian advocate later filed a formal complaint with the ICC, alleging that the act was a deliberate religious display that went against the spirit of the game. A similar incident occurred during the 2021 T20 World Cup clash against India, when former pacer Waqar Younis commented on the significance of Rizwan praying “in front of Hindus,” a remark for which Younis later apologised.
