Rizwan Answers Pakistan Axing With First Double Century in 12 Years

Mohammad Rizwan let his bat do the talking after a turbulent few weeks. The 34-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, left out of Pakistan's squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting November 9 in Rawalpindi, walked in for Peshawar Region Blues at 127 for 3 against Faisalabad Region in Abbottabad and never looked back. He was unbeaten on 111 overnight on the first day and went on to reach 200 from 252 balls, striking 35 fours and a six. Along the way he shared a 246-run fourth-wicket stand with Najab Khan, who made 133, and then an unbroken 130-run partnership with Muhammad Haris for the fifth wicket as Peshawar declared at 503 for 4. It was Rizwan's second first-class double hundred and his first in 12 years, a timely reminder of his quality with the bat at a moment when his international future is under scrutiny. His last Test appearance came in August against England, and he was among seven players sent home after the second Test defeat. An ongoing probe by Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency has added to a difficult period off the field, but in Abbottabad the response was emphatic, measured and impossible to ignore.