‘True warrior’ Rizwan melts hearts after his ICU’s photo goes viral

Mian Mujahid Shah, Staff Reporter

The photo of Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan receiving treatment in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Dubai hospital has gone viral, melting the millions of hearts of cricket fans and former cricketers alike.

Cricketers and fans have hailed Rizwan as a “warrior” after officials revealed he was in hospital with a severe chest infection before taking the field to score a brave half-century against Australia.

The Pakistani batter top-scored with 67 in Thursday’s T20 World Cup semi-final against Australia in Dubai despite spending two days in a hospital due to a chest infection, the team doctor confirmed.

Pakistan’s cricket team doctor Najeeb Soomro said Rizwan was admitted to the ICU in a local hospital in Dubai on Tuesday, but was declared fit on the morning of the semi-final.

"He spent two nights in the ICU, made an incredible recovery and was deemed fit before the match,” Soomro said after Pakistan lost by five wickets with Matthew Wade smashing three successive sixes against Shaheen Afridi in the penultimate over.

"We can see his great determination and tenacity that shows his spirit of performing for the country and we can see how he responded today.”

Soomro had added: "The decision regarding his health was made by the whole team management. This was regarding the morale of the whole team and therefore we kept it within the team."

Taking to Twitter, legendary fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar lauded the cricketer for his commitment and dedication to the country.

"Can you imagine this guy played for his country today and gave his best. He was in the hospital last two days," he said.

"Massive respect Mohammad Rizwan."

“This is unreal. No wonder Matthew Hayden called him a warrior. Huge respect for Mohammad Rizwan who spent two nights before the #T20WorldCup semi-final in ICU - then top-scored with 67!” tweeted Cricket Australia.

Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman on Friday paid tributes to Rizwan's commitment to the team at the ICC T20 World Cup, saying that the opener was a great example of "courage and determination," after the 29-year-old battled serious health issues to slam a half-century in a losing cause on Thursday.

Laxman posted an image of Rizwan in the ICU with numerous sensors, drips and monitoring gadgets all over his body as he lay comatose two days before the semi-final clash.

Sharing a video of the team doctor talking about Rizwan's illness, the Punjab chief minister's focal person for digital media, Azhar Mashwani, simply wrote: “Love you.”

After the match, Rizwan tweeted, “Diya jalaye rakhna hai (have to keep the lamp burning).”

Captain Babar Azam, who made 39 to lead the tournament’s batting chart with 303 runs, praised his opening partner’s "exceptional" attitude.

"Definitely he’s a team man. The way he played today, it was exceptional," Babar had said.

"When I saw him, he was a little bit down, but when I asked him about his health he said, no, I will play. And the way he played today he showed that he’s a team man. And I am very confident about his attitude and his performance."

Rizwan finished the tournament as the second highest run-scorer behind captain Babar Azam’s 303. He made 281 runs with three half centuries and also became the first batter in the world to complete 1,000 T20 runs in a calendar year.