As the Pakistan Super League (PSL) continues in full swing, its live telecast has been halted in India following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack. In the midst of this political tension, a light-hearted moment from the cricket field has taken social media by storm involving none other than Pakistan's star wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan.
In the clip, Rizwan reaches for the bottle to take a drink, but he is seen deliberately peeling off the label from the Pepsi bottle. Pepsi is the one of the sponsor of Multan Sultan in PSL. The action has sparked a flurry of humorous and speculative reactions from fans online. Many are wondering whether Rizwan was avoiding accidental brand promotion.
Fans reaction to Mohammad Rizwan's actions during PSL match
Reason behind Rizwan peeling Pepsi's logo?
According to Asian Mirror report, conflict between Israel and Palestine on October 7, 2023, had resulted in a devastating humanitarian toll, with more than 50,000 Palestinians reported dead and countless others wounded. In response, public outrage has surged globally, giving rise to boycott movements targeting Western brands perceived as supporting Israel. Leading these initiatives is the BDS Movement, a Palestinian-led campaign advocating non-violent pressure on Israel to respect Palestinian rights. In this context, the Pakistan Super League’s partnership with Pepsi has stirred criticism and sparked debate among supporters.
Rizwan's history with trolling
Rizwan is no stranger to trolling. He had made headlines with his candid comments about the English language and his role as a cricketer.
In his statement ahead of Multan Sultans' first PSL match, Rizwan said, "Mujhe iss se farak nahi padta ki mujhe English nahin aati. Mujhe ek percent bhi sharaam nahi hai. Mera se jo demand hai woh cricket hai. Mere se demand English nahi hai. Mere pass itna time nahi hai ye chesse ke liye."
(I don't care about it. I am not educated; I don't know how to speak English. But I'm not ashamed of it even one percent. I am here to play cricket; I am not here to teach English. My nation demands cricket from me. I don't have time to learn English.)
In the past, former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg found himself in hot water for mimicking Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan’s English in a viral video.
Mohammad Rizwan makes history
Mohammad Rizwan on Tuesday, April 29, became just the ninth batter in T20 history to carry his bat through the innings. During the PSL match against Quetta Gladiators, Rizwan carried his bat with an unbeaten 44 as Multan Sultans were bowled out for just 89.
Batting first in Lahore, the Sultans slumped to 37-5, with Khurram Shahzad claiming four of those wickets (4-23). His fiery spell crippled the innings, as Multan were skittled for just 89 in 17 overs. Multan's 89 is the third-lowest total in PSL history while batting first, behind Lahore Qalandars' 78 (2019) and 59 (2017).
Mohammad Wasim Jr (2-18) and Faheem Ashraf (2-21 off three overs) provided strong support to Shahzad. Rizwan, the season’s leading run-scorer so far, fought a lone battle for Multan with an unbeaten 44 off 44 balls as opener but ran out of partners.
