Rizwan says ‘luck’ favoured Australia

LAHORE: Pakistan’s white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan attributed his team’s narrow defeat in the first ODI against Australia to a stroke of “luck” favouring the hosts, as they edged out Pakistan by two wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Monday.

In the post-match presentation, Rizwan acknowledged his team’s fighting spirit but lamented the role of fortune in the final outcome. “The luck was with Australia, and that’s why they won,” he remarked. He praised his bowlers’ resolve, as they maintained aggressive lines and lengths that extracted extra bounce from the pitch and consistently troubled the Australian batting lineup.

While Rizwan’s pace-heavy strategy nearly paid off, Australia’s varied bowling attack proved equally crucial. Cummins, showing tactical acumen, employed seven bowlers in an effort to disrupt Pakistan’s scoring and keep the visitors on their toes. By contrast, Pakistan stuck with a four-pacer strategy, not using any other bowler hoping that their primary bowlers would dominate proceedings. Rizwan, reflecting on his approach, stated, “The plan was to rely on our main bowlers. We believed they could defend any total.”