No one would have raised an eyebrow if CP Rizwan, the 36-year-old Kerala-born cricketer, had announced his retirement after losing the captaincy and his place in the UAE team — just one year after leading the country in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.
However, Rizwan is not one to give up after a few setbacks.
Rizwan is a technically sound batsman who can pick a few wickets with part-time spin. He is already looking ahead to the 2027 50-over World Cup and hopes to regain a permanent place in the UAE ODI squad and help qualify for the one-day showcase cricket event.
“I have a big dream of playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup and scoring the winning hundred,” said Rizwan, who scored the winning ODI hundred against Ireland in the 2021 Test team.
But Rizwan will be 39 when the 2027 World Cup begins in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
But even as the years pass, his spirit remains intact and he draws inspiration from some of the most famous cricketers we have ever seen.
“My goals are big, but when your goals are big, the obstacles are big,” he said.
“But I have always believed that it is performance, not age that matters. Looking back, when Imran Khan won the 1992 World Cup (as captain of Pakistan), he was 42 years old and the best of all time.
Sachin Tendulkar was 37 years old when he won the 2011 World Cup. You’ll see a lot. Of course, I’m always willing to give young talent a chance, but when it comes to performance, age shouldn’t be a consideration.”
Unemployed
Losing his place in the UAE team has had a big impact on his life His career ended when Rizwan lost his contract with the Emirates Cricket Board.
“Not being in the team was certainly tough and tough. My family’s support was very important. Now I’m back in the ODI team. But even when I’m not in the team, I work hard. I kept going and scored,” he said.
Rizwan, a qualified engineer, has opened a new cricket academy in Dubai – Set Go Cricket.
“I don’t have a contract or a job at the moment. I hope the cricket academy will help create financial stability,” he said.
“Regular income is important. I always believe that if we keep doing the right things, everything will be fine.”
Apart from the support of his family, Rizwan is the CEO of Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Khalaf Bukhatir. says he has a lot to be grateful for.
“I would like to thank Mr. Khalaf Bukhatir for allowing me to play in Sharjah for the Emirates D50, which allowed me to rejoin the UAE team,” he said.
“Muhammad Haider, the owner of the Seven Districts team, has also been one of my biggest supporters. I have a lot to be grateful for, great people who always support great cricketers.”
Work ethic
Rizwan, who has played 60 international matches since his debut, says UAE head coach Lalchand Rajput has been impressed with his commitment to the game.
“He was very happy with my work ethic, it was very good to hear those words from an experienced coach like him. It gave me the motivation to work even harder,” he said.
With dreams of playing in his first ODI World Cup, Rizwan has now reached the UK to gain some new experience in cricket.
“I am playing my first match this Saturday. It’s going to be a new experience for me as a cricketer to play in England,” he said.
“I will play in T20 and 50 overs formats, it will be a challenge to play in different conditions. But I am very excited and hopefully, it will help me improve as a cricketer.”