November 10, 2024: Pakistan’s series win over Australia in the third ODI was a historic achievement, and skipper Mohammad Rizwan couldn’t hide his pride and joy after leading his team to their first series victory in Australia since 2002. Rizwan’s captaincy has begun with a bang, and the standout performances of his bowlers played a crucial role in securing the 2-1 series win.
In the post-match presentation, Rizwan reflected on the significance of the victory, calling it a “special moment” for both him and the nation. He acknowledged that the team hadn’t lived up to expectations in recent years, making this series win even more meaningful. Rizwan also emphasized the collaborative nature of his leadership, stating that while he captains the team, the success is a collective effort. He made it clear that he relies on input from both the batting and bowling groups, giving credit where it was due.
“A special moment for me (the series win), the nation will be very happy today, we did not perform as per expectations in the last couple of years. I am the captain only for the toss and presentations – everyone gives me suggestions on the field, the batting group and the bowling group. All the credit to the bowlers, (beating) Australia in Australia is not easy, the conditions suit their style of playing, but the bowlers were outstanding. Also, credit to the two openers, they made the chases easy. The people back home are always behind us and I want to dedicate this victory to them,” Rizwan said.
The standout performers of the series were Pakistan’s pace attack, which dominated throughout. Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and debutant opener Saim Ayub played pivotal roles in securing the series win. Rauf’s fiery spells, Afridi’s precision, and Ayub’s solid performances at the top of the order made all the difference.
In the final ODI, Pakistan’s bowlers once again stepped up. Rauf was the most successful, taking key wickets to break the Australian batting order, while Shaheen Afridi and the rest of the bowling unit were equally effective in keeping the pressure on.
Meanwhile, the openers, Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, played crucial roles in the successful run chase. Their partnerships laid the foundation, easing the pressure off the middle order and ensuring that Pakistan comfortably reached their target.
This victory not only marked a series win over Australia on their home turf for the first time in over two decades, but it also highlighted the resilience and growth of the Pakistani team under Rizwan’s leadership. After a hard-fought first ODI loss, Pakistan bounced back in style, winning the next two matches convincingly. The series win has surely lifted the morale of the team and will go down as a historic achievement in Pakistan’s cricketing annals.
Rizwan’s leadership and the team’s overall performance are sure to be celebrated back home, as Pakistan has shown they can compete at the highest level, even in tough conditions like Australia. This win is a perfect example of teamwork, with the bowlers and openers putting in match-winning performances at critical moments. The series victory also sets a positive tone for Pakistan as they prepare for future challenges, both at home and abroad.
