Hyderabad Kingsmen Star Slams Mohammad Rizwan for His Controversial Statement During PSL 11

Hyderabad Kingsmen all-rounder Hammad Azam has criticized Mohammad Rizwan for saying his side did not deserve a place in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) playoffs, calling the remarks disappointing and unfair.

The controversy emerged after Hyderabad Kingsmen sealed a dramatic playoff spot with a crushing 108-run win over RawalPindiz in their final league match. The Kingsmen piled up 244/6 before bowling Pindiz out for 136, a result that helped them finish level on points with Lahore Qalandars and qualify on net run-rate.

After the match, Rizwan suggested Hyderabad had been fortunate to reach the next stage and said he did not think they deserved qualification, although he admitted it could just be his personal opinion.

Hammad has now responded strongly, saying such comments were surprising, especially from an experienced captain.

He said he was disappointed after hearing Rizwan’s press conference and did not expect such a statement from someone who has led a PSL side for years and also served as Pakistan captain. According to Hammad, one poor game cannot be used to judge whether a team deserves to qualify.

He also pointed to RawalPindiz’s own results, saying Rizwan’s side should first look at its own performances before questioning another team’s place in the playoffs. Hammad noted that Hyderabad had already bowled Pindiz out for 125 earlier in the tournament and then beat them by more than 100 runs in the return fixture, which he said only strengthened Hyderabad’s case.

The all-rounder also took issue with Rizwan’s reported remarks about preferring another team to win before the match, saying a captain should always focus on finishing strongly and motivating his own side to win regardless of other results.

Hammad further rejected suggestions linked to comments made during a break in play, dismissing any idea that he had encouraged anyone to take the game lightly. He said the only proper approach is to push for victory or, at the very least, limit the damage in defeat.

His response has now added extra heat to the PSL 11 playoff race, with Hyderabad’s qualification already one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament.

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