Mohammad Rizwan

International cricket has no shortage of players who spend years on the fringes before their moment finally arrives, but few had to wait as long or as thanklessly as Mohammad Rizwan. For much of his early career, he looked like a name destined to remain a talking point rather than a fixture in Pakistan's side. He was a technically sound wicketkeeper with a modest batting record. Rizwan made his international debut shortly after the 2015 World Cup, but once Sarfaraz Ahmed was installed as Pakistan's first-choice gloveman and later captain, Rizwan's chances all but disappeared.

For years, he was mostly known as the player pundits floated as a better option, without ever getting a real chance to prove it. His opportunity finally came in early 2019, when Sarfaraz was suspended for the closing stretch of Pakistan's tour of South Africa. Rizwan grabbed it with both hands. A strong tour of England later that year, built on gritty batting and reliable work behind the stumps, cemented his place as Pakistan's first-choice wicketkeeper across formats. Not long after, during a tour of New Zealand, he was tried out as a stand-in opener in T20Is while Babar Azam was rested. That role would go on to completely reshape his career.

What followed was one of the most remarkable individual years T20 cricket has seen. Through 2021, Rizwan became almost impossible to dismiss cheaply. He also formed, alongside Babar Azam, one of the most feared opening partnerships in the world. He played a starring role in Pakistan's win over India at that year's T20 World Cup. His form was recognised with both the ICC's Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year award and Wisden's Leading T20 Cricketer in the World honour.

His rise off the field matched his rise on it. He led Multan Sultans to their maiden Pakistan Super League title in 2021. His growing stature within Pakistan cricket then saw him handed the Test vice-captaincy, before he was appointed Pakistan's white-ball captain in 2024, a role that has endured most prominently in ODI cricket. Alongside his national career, he built an extensive franchise resume, turning out in the Bangladesh Premier League, English county cricket and the Big Bash League.

By the mid-2020s, Rizwan had established himself as one of Pakistan's most durable performers. He was known for his relentless energy behind the stumps and his ability to bat for long periods without any drop in intensity. His form dipped through 2025 and into 2026, drawing scrutiny and retirement speculation, which he publicly rejected. Even so, he remained a central figure in Pakistan's setup.