Mohammad Rizwan and Mohsin Naqvi (Source: AFP)

The Pakistan Super League 2026 has introduced a blend of enthusiasm and difficulty, particularly for the brand‑new franchise Rawalpindiz. Under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, Rawalpindiz entered the competition bearing significant expectations after the league expanded from six to eight teams earlier in the year.

As Rawalpindiz stumbled out of the gate with two consecutive defeats, a renewed controversy has thrust Mohammad Rizwan into the centre of public attention.

Rawalpindiz, which is owned by Walee Technologies, has become the most valuable franchise in PSL history after a purchase price of PKR 2.45 billion was agreed upon.

The franchise materialised following the rebranding and acquisition of the Multan Sultans’ rights in February 2026, with Mohammad Rizwan retained as captain under the Platinum category.

Nevertheless, the on‑field results have fallen short of the pre‑season hype. Rawalpindiz have suffered defeats in both opening fixtures and currently linger near the base of the points table with zero points and a net run rate of –0.556.

Despite posting a formidable total of 214/4 in match 1, Rawalpindiz could not protect that score against Peshawar Zalmi. In match 2, Rawalpindiz succumbed to a five‑wicket loss at the hands of Karachi Kings.

Mohammad Rizwan Under Fire After Owner’s Social‑Media Activity

It is crucial to recognise that Mohammad Rizwan has resurfaced in headlines again, this time for an undesirable reason. A viral social‑media post accused Mohammad Rizwan of showing favouritism toward Pashtun players, asserting that several promising youngsters were being denied equitable opportunities.

The post specifically highlighted that players such as Abdullah Fazal and Saad Masood were being underutilised, while the upper batting order appeared to be populated by Mohammad Rizwan’s preferred cohort.

The controversy intensified when Gohar Shah, the franchise owner and chief executive officer, appeared to ‘like’ the critical post on a social‑media platform.

Social‑Media Controversy Involving Owner Gohar Shah and Mohammad Rizwan

“Rizwan has insane bias for Pashtun players. Youngster Abdullah Fazal is made to bat at 6 when his strength is his spin game. While top 3 is occupied by his mates. Also 5 out of 7 players in playing XI are Pashtun. Youngster like Saad Masood and Fazal not given proper chance,” the tweet read.

The fan who initially posted the comment later shared a screenshot showing the owner’s ‘like’. Some commentators even suggested that the Multan Sultans would have been better off after Mohammad Rizwan’s departure.

Check the Tweet here: 

To date, neither Mohammad Rizwan nor the franchise administration has released an official statement addressing the matter.

Mohammad Rizwan Reflects On Rawalpindiz’s Performance

Following the defeat to Karachi Kings on April 2, Mohammad Rizwan remarked that sub‑par fielding, rather than inadequate bowling, proved decisive in the loss. Mohammad Rizwan pointed to dropped catches – notably missed chances against Azam Khan – as the turning points that swung the contest.

In that match, Rawalpindiz posted a competitive 197/6, bolstered by solid contributions from Daryl Mitchell and Sam Billings.

Karachi Kings, however, chased down the target with apparent ease, anchored by captain David Warner and supported by Azam Khan. It is noteworthy that David Warner will travel home before the next fixture.

Mohammad Rizwan emphasised that the bowling unit had made improvements relative to the previous game, yet fielding glitches remained too costly to overcome. Mohammad Rizwan’s comments indicate that Rawalpindiz continue to search for the optimal blend of skill and consistency.

On an individual level, Mohammad Rizwan has enjoyed a respectable start to PSL 2026. Across two matches, Mohammad Rizwan has accumulated 62 runs at a strike rate of 137.77 and an average of 31.00.

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