Rashid Latif claims Rizwan lost captaincy for supporting Palestine cause

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has claimed that Mohammad Rizwan was removed from the team’s captaincy because he supported the Palestine cause.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new one-day team captain, replacing Rizwan, who had taken over the role from Babar Azam not long ago.

Reacting to this change, Latif blamed head coach Mike Hessen for the decision. In a viral video, he alleged that Rizwan was dismissed “just because he held the Palestinian flag.” Latif said, “The thought has now come that a non-Islamic captain should lead an Islamic country.”

He further claimed that Hessen wanted to change the culture inside the team’s dressing room and had the support of only a few people in making this decision. Latif also said that Rizwan had brought religious traditions into the dressing room during his time as captain, something Hessen reportedly did not like.

Rizwan has openly shown his support for Palestine in the past. While playing for Multan Sultans in the PSL, he announced a donation of one lakh rupees for Palestinian aid for every six and wicket. In 2023, he also dedicated Pakistan’s World Cup win against Sri Lanka to “the brothers and sisters of Palestine.”

The PCB has not yet given an official reason for removing Rizwan. According to reports, the decision was made after a meeting between the selection committee and white-ball head coach Mike Hessen in Islamabad.

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