Former Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria didn't hold back in his criticism of Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, following his struggles during the 2024 T20 World Cup against India. Kaneria compared Rizwan to India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, ultimately selecting Pant as the superior player due to his ability to deliver in crucial moments.

The debate between Rizwan and Pant has long been a topic of discussion among cricket fans and pundits, given their exceptional skills with both bat and gloves. However, while Pant is known for his aggressive stroke play and game-changing performances, Rizwan’s consistency has made him a key figure for Pakistan in international cricket. Despite this, Kaneria feels that Pant has a clear edge, especially when it comes to performing under pressure.

In an interview with Sports Yaari Network, Kaneria explained his reasoning, pointing to Rizwan’s batting failures during high-stakes matches, particularly in the T20 World Cup clash against India.

"If I say Rishabh Pant, you ask me, why not Rizwan? Because when the runs matter the most for the teams, he doesn’t make runs for the team; that’s the only problem I have. Because you know in the 2024 T20 World Cup, when Rizwan was on the crease, Rohit Sharma deliberately brought Jasprit Bumrah on the bowling attack. Since Rizwan was on the strike, Rohit knew that Bumrah should take the wicket of this guy," Kaneria said.

Kaneria continued to critique Rizwan’s performance in that crucial match, expressing disappointment at his inability to score against bowlers like Axar Patel and Bumrah. "You hit such a sweet ball. I mean, what is this? Your batsmen, you are not able to get runs against even Axar Patel. You are taking two runs, one run, and you are trapping them on each other. You are facing a fast bowler, whom the captain deliberately brought to take your wicket. And you say, 'You brought it; take my wicket. Thank you,'" he added.

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