Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan’s Excessive Appealing Draws Criticism from Umpire Anil Chaudhary
Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s wicket-keeper, has gained notoriety for his incessant appeals from behind the stumps during matches. This behavior has often drawn the ire of umpires, opponents, and fans alike.
Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary, who has officiated in over 50 international matches across formats, recently shared his thoughts on Rizwan’s tendency to appeal frequently. Chaudhary described Rizwan as someone who “keeps jumping like a pigeon” from behind the stumps.
“He appeals a lot. I even told my fellow umpire to stay aware. Har ball pe chillata hai (He keeps shouting on every ball). Isn’t he the one who puts something like a lipstick? He keeps jumping like a pigeon,” Chaudhary said in a YouTube podcast.
Chaudhary emphasized that a good umpire knows how to handle keepers like Rizwan. “If the umpire is good, these keepers are losers. Aur itna technology aa gaya hai, kyun apna beizatti karwa rahein ho? Ulta seedha nikla jayega, toh log aap hi ka mazak udayenge (When technology has evolved so much, why do you have to make yourself look bad? People tend to make fun of such things),” he added.
Rizwan’s excessive appealing has been a topic of discussion for some time. In 2021, former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized Rizwan’s behavior, calling it “embarrassing.”
Despite the criticism, Rizwan has continued to appeal frequently. In Pakistan’s first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, Rizwan scored an unbeaten 171 in the first innings. However, Bangladesh responded strongly with a total of 565 all out, taking a 117-run first innings lead.
