PAK vs NZ | Twitter slams 'captain cool' Rizwan for rewarding Shaheen's peach with futile outrage

Gantavya Adukia

ByGantavya Adukia,SportsCafe Editor

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Pressure gets to the best of us -- just ask MS Dhoni about the no-ball against Delhi or Rahul Dravid about using caps as frisbees. Mohammad Rizwan joined that infamous list in the Champions Trophy opener after his calm exterior melted in the Karachi heat, much to Shaheen Afridi's chagrin.

New Zealand's calculated approach, executed flawlessly through tons from Will Young and Tom Latham followed by a trademark Glenn Phillips death overs blitzkreig, took them to a formidable first innings total of 320/5 in the Champions Trophy opener against Pakistan in Karachi. The last six overs were worth 96 alone, with the 47th over proving to be the nadir as Shaheen Afridi got slammed for two maximums and a boundary in an 18-run over. However, the left-arm quick had his moments and the over could have turned out very differently had luck gone his way on the first delivery, albeit skipper Mohammad Rizwan seemed to think otherwise.

Up against a well-settled Latham who had already brought up the three-figure mark, Afridi angled a fullish delivery across the southpaw to tempt the Kiwi into a flick. However, the veteran had taken just enough pace off the ball to draw the shot early, and the Kookaburra flew off the leading edge between short third man and square leg for a boundary. Afridi was unsurprisingly gutted at having his genius be punished with a boundary but there was more suffering in store. Rizwan, in his usual animated way, screamed at his bowler for setting a leg side field but getting hit on the offside, the rage evident in the red flush and stern expressions on his face. Afridi was quick to point out that the original shot was intended to go towards the leg side and he could not have done anything more, albeit it did little to impact his captain's emotions.

Twitterati was quick to rain down on Rizwan for letting the pressure of the moment get to him instead of being supportive to his premier bowlers.

Whttt!!!

Injury !!

LOL!!!

Struggle Begin!

Let's  See!

SSSSS

Wht do you think!!

What a save!!

Not bad!

Flying Phillip!!!

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