Dhaka: Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das has accused Pakistan star Mohammad Rizwan of refusing to shake hands with opposing players following the two Tests of their recent series, describing the behavior as “unprofessional” and disrespectful.
The tension between the two players surfaced during the second Test in Sylhet, where they engaged in a heated exchange on the field.
The incident occurred in the 72nd over of Pakistan’s innings when Rizwan raised concerns about walking near the display screen. Lytton questioned the delay and a brief argument ensued before referee Richard Kettleborough stepped in to calm the situation.
Speaking at an event organized by a Bangladesh media outlet, Das revealed that Rizwan’s actions after the matches left a lasting impression on him.
“There’s one thing I don’t like. Whatever happens on the field, after the match, you have to shake hands with everyone. After we won the first Test, Rizwan didn’t come to shake our hands. No matter who you are, no matter how big a player you are, it’s bad. Win or lose is respectable,” he said during an event at the Bangladesh News Agency.
Despite the personal issue with Rizwan, the Bangladesh batter suggested that refusing to participate in the traditional post-match handshake showed a lack of respect for the entire Bangladesh side.
“He might have a problem with me, but the whole Bangladesh team didn’t do anything to him. What should we expect from him next time? He didn’t show respect to our team,” he recalled of the second Test.
Despite his criticism, Das acknowledged Rizwan’s importance to Pakistan’s batting line-up, along with former captain Babar Azam.
“I know only Babar and Rizwan can trouble us. Rizwan’s performance against Bangladesh was very strong and that stuck in my mind,” he said.
Das admitted that Bangladesh specifically targeted Rizwan during the series.
“I knew only Babar and Rizwan could trouble us. Rizwan’s numbers against us were strong and that stuck with me,” Lytton said.
“He was a big thing in Pakistan, but something happened that I didn’t like. Since then, I had a question mark about him. Also, everyone knows that Rizwan takes his time between the balls. I found it difficult to keep wickets in that suit. So I decided to do something about it,” he concluded.