'This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza' - Muhammad Rizwan dedicates his knock to Israel-Palestine war victims

Star Pakistan batter Muhammad Rizwan has dedicated his match-winning knock against Sri Lanka in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup to the victims of the Palestine attack in Gaza. 

Rizwan scored his first-ever century in ODIs and helped his side win the game by six wickets during a record-breaking chase of 345 runs. The wicketkeeper-batter amassed an unbeaten 131 off just 121 deliveries, including eight boundaries and three maximums. Apart from him, the opener Abdullah Shafique also played a substantial knock of 113 runs. 

Rizwan on Wednesday (October 11) took to X and dedicated his spectacular knock to the 'brothers and sisters in Gaza.' He also showered praise on Shafique and Hassan Ali for their significant contributions to the side.

"This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza," he wrote on X.

"Happy to contribute in the win. Credits to the whole team and especially Abdullah Shafique and Hassan Ali for making it easier. Extremely grateful to the people of Hyderabad for the amazing hospitality and support throughout," he added.

See Muhammad Rizwan's post:

This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. 🤲🏼

Happy to contribute in the win. Credits to the whole team and especially Abdullah Shafique and Hassan Ali for making it easier.

Extremely grateful to the people of Hyderabad for the amazing hospitality and support throughout.

— Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) October 11, 2023

Shafique, Rizwan helps Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. Kusal Mendis (122) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (108) scored respective centuries as Sri Lanka posted a mammoth 344 runs. Opener Pathum Nissanka also played a significant knock of 61-ball 51  runs. Hassan Ali was key for Pakistan, who finished with figures of 4/71 in his full quota.  

The men in Green got off to the worst possible start, losing opener Imam ul Haq for just 12 runs. Following this, captain Babar Azam was cheaply dismissed for a paltry score of 10 runs. However, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan stitched a 176-run partnership for the third wicket. 

Shafique was dismissed in the 34th over, with Pakistan reeling at 213/3. Meanwhile, Rizwan then led the charge for his team to chase down the target with 10 balls to spare. The wicketkeeper-batter went on to win the Player of the Match award.