Star Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan is widely regarded as one of the finest batters in the game today. Currently representing Pakistan in a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, Rizwan recently made history by becoming the first Pakistani keeper since Kamran Akmal in 2009 to score 150 or more in a Test innings. Known not just for his cricketing prowess, Rizwan is also famous for his on-field antics, including his tendency to appeal frequently and even resort to playful theatrics like fake cramping, which can sometimes be a nuisance for the umpires.
However, Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary remains unfazed by Rizwan’s antics. In a recent conversation, Chaudhary humorously compared Rizwan’s constant appeals to a pigeon’s erratic movements. Recalling an incident from the Asia Cup last year, the 59-year-old umpire shared how he once advised a fellow umpire not to be swayed by Rizwan’s persistent appeals.
“Yes, I officiated in the Asia Cup last year. Rizwan appeals at everything, but let him. I told the other umpire to be cautious because Rizwan appeals a lot, jumping around like a pigeon. The other umpire later told me, ‘I was about to give out, but then I remembered what you said about him.’ Isn’t he the one who applies something like lipstick (Zinc Oxide)?” Chaudhary said on the 2 Sloggers podcast.
Chaudhary also issued a warning to Rizwan and other wicketkeepers, advising them against making unnecessary appeals. He cautioned that excessive appealing might even cause umpires to withhold legitimate decisions.
“If the umpire is sharp, he can outsmart the wicketkeepers. This is a warning to all the keepers out there: if you make unnecessary appeals, you might not even get the decisions that are actually correct,” he added.