![Mohammad Rizwan [Source: @RichKettle07, @CallMeSheri1/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1769673627062_MohammadRizwan.jpg?type=hq)
Mohammad Rizwan [Source: @RichKettle07, @CallMeSheri1/x]
The Pakistan cricket team is set to host Australia in a series of three T20I matches between January 29 and February 1. A couple of days prior to the series-opener in Lahore, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) organized a grand photoshoot of the two captains and also unveiled the series trophy.
At one point of the photoshoot, captains Agha Salman and Mitchell Marsh were seen riding a tuk-tuk with their national flags. Much to everyone’s surprise, a moment from the shoot quickly went viral as fans began drawing humorous comparisons between the tuk-tuk driver and exiled Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan.
Mohammad Rizwan returns to Pakistan T20I setup, as per fans
On Wednesday, January 28, the PCB shared pictures and videos of the Pakistan vs Australia pre-series captains’ photoshoot on their social media.
A moment of the photoshoot caught everyone’s attention, with several fans jokingly claiming that senior wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has finally made his return to Pakistan’s T20I setup after getting dropped from the national side.
The moment refers to the tuk-tuk driver resembling the former Pakistani captain. Fans were quick to point out the similarity between the driver and Mohammad Rizwan, and shared some hilarious jokes and memes at the expense of the out-of-favor Pakistan cricketer.
Here is a look at some of the fans reacting to the tuk-tuk driver resembling Mohammad Rizwan:
Why was Mohammad Rizwan dropped from Pakistan team?
Senior Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan was dropped from the national T20I side following his underwhelming returns in Pakistan’s away series in Australia and South Africa in late-2024. Even during the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA, the top-order batter aggregated 110 runs in four innings, but at a dismal batting strike rate of just 90.9.
Mohammad Rizwan played the last of his 106 T20Is for the Pakistan team back in December 2024 against South Africa at Centurion. The legendary batter, however, continues to remain a part of Pakistan’s Test and ODI setups.
Pakistan vs Australia T20I series in a hindsight
The Australian cricket team is on a tour of Pakistan for a short three-match T20I series. Each of the three matches of the tour will be hosted by the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, as per the schedule unveiled by the PCB earlier this month.
The series serves as a final testing ground for both sides in their road towards the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. While the series-opener will be played on Friday, January 29, the second and third T20Is will be staged on January 31 and February 1.
As per a recent update, Travis Head will be leading the Australian team in the first T20I in place of a rested Mitchell Marsh. In Pakistan, senior pros Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi will be making their national returns to the team following their BBL 2025-26 stints in Australia earlier this month.
