PAK vs NZ 1st Test: Twitter reacts as Pakistan drop Mohammad Rizwan to bring back Sarfaraz Ahmed after 3 years in Test squad - Check

The Pakistan cricket team management's decision to drop wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and bring in Sarfaraz Ahmed - their former captain who last played a Test in January 2019 - for the first Test against New Zealand here has raised a few eyebrows. The team management also decided to include Mir Hamza, the left-arm seamer who played his only Test way back in 2018, in the playing eleven as skipper Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat first in a series that Pakistan have to win to recover from the embarrassing 0-3 thrashing they suffered against England.

Also Read: Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Pakistan captain hits yet another century, cricket fans call him 'King of Test' - Check Reaction

Sarafaraz Ke aane se shayad Pakistan ki kismat badal jaaye..He was always Better than Qudrat ka Nizam Rizwan

— Ujjwal (@iujjwal_x) December 26, 2022

What a Sound Knock Skip!_
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Sarfaraz Ahmad Ramiz Raja Rizwan #BabarAzam_ pic.twitter.com/2dZuk9kJ4J — Current Cricket (@Anonymo089) December 26, 2022

rizwan and sarfraz in the same playing 11 pic.twitter.com/Li3jKBkoJf — Ahmed. (@ahmxidd) December 26, 2022

New Zealand were prepared for Muhammad Rizwan but Sarfaraz Ahmed came out of syllabus __ pic.twitter.com/2217aAlsvG

— h-a-m-m-a-d (@iamhmmad1) December 26, 2022

Sarfaraz scored the fifty in his comeback, partnership 129* runs and continues. Pakistan didn't lose a wicket in the second session.

But we all missed Rizwan's smile and those wholesome moments. I hate you PCB for ruining this. #PAKvNZ #PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/wMRaUChq4x — Shahid (@ishahid__) December 26, 2022

Rizwan looking at this like pic.twitter.com/YzymIJEUqd — ______ (@its_me_axad) December 26, 2022

Former Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed complete his 19th Test Fifty.

Sarfaraz returned in the team after long time in place of Rizwan.

Not Out on 54*
Pakistan 239/4#PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/GvXJ36RIkW — Surinder (@navsurani) December 26, 2022

Rizwan bhai sudher ja __#SarfarazAhmed #BabarAzam_ #PAKVNZ #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/lZSqeyNzDb — Diyar_ (@Diyar_Khan01) December 26, 2022

Sarfaraz deserves placement as a batsman, as Rizwan at present form irreplaceable #PAKvNZ https://t.co/fITQW4S0v3 — Hamid Ullah Wazir (@Hamidwaziristan) December 26, 2022

Rizwan bhi humara hy,
Saifi bhi humara hy __
That's it. That's the tweet __#PakvsNZ #SarfarazAhmed #MuhammadRizwan #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/mo5NnAvBv3 — Daniyal ___ __ (@daniyal20khan) December 26, 2022

But I now miss Rizwan here. Happy to see Saifi Bhai but Rizzy _ https://t.co/B5L6R7eGjq — Aqsa__ (@AqsaKhizar) December 26, 2022

Interim chief selector Shahid Afridi had said that he would like to bring experienced players back into the squad as they look to resurrect their Test form while also rotating some of their key players.

The decision not to include Rizwan seems to be based on that logic, even though the wicketkeeper has been in good form recently. He is the second-highest-ranked Pakistan batter in the Men's Test Batting Rankings in 2022.

While Afridi has been taking such decisions, skipper Babar Azam said he is not under pressure despite the debacle in the England series. Babar, who is ranked No. 1 in the Test rankings, said he does not take pressure as it will impact his game.

"To be honest, I don't take the pressure. If you take the pressure, your game goes down. I have a belief that its a new day, a new team and a new match so things will be different. It's our unit and that unity, not that they are supporting me only, they support each other," said Azam ahead of the first Test against New Zealand.

Babar said he is hopeful that Pakistan would come back from the England series and win against New Zealand.

"When you lose, such things come up. All sportsmen support each other. As a player and as a captain I keep myself in my zone. Yes, we have lost a series but Insha'Allah we will stage a comeback," Azam added.

Babar's decision to bat first seems to have backfired as the hosts slumped to 97/2 in 27 overs in the morning session. Babar is trying to resurrect his innings as he was batting on 48.