For months, Mohammad Rizwan’s simple phrase — “Win or Learn” — has echoed far beyond the cricket field. Meant to reflect a positive mindset in defeat, the words have instead been weaponized by social media trolls, turning into a meme template mocking the Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter’s English-speaking skills. But true to his character, Rizwan has finally responded not with anger — but with humility and rare self-awareness.
Speaking to reporters during a Multan Sultans press conference as he prepared his team for another season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Mohammad Rizwan addressed the online trolling that has targeted his English.
Without mincing words, Mohammad Rizwan said:
“Mujhe taleem hasil karni chahiye thi. Main kabhi nahi kehta ke main bada parhna likhna hoon. Mujhe English nahi aati — main accept karta hoon. Main educated nahi hoon.”
(Translation: I should have pursued education. I never claim to be highly educated. I don’t know English — I accept that. I am not educated.)
Mohammad Rizwan’s “Win or Learn” comment — delivered after a post-match interview earlier — was rooted in the age-old sporting philosophy of learning from failure. But in the cutthroat world of social media, the spirit of the message was overshadowed by mockery of his accent and pronunciation.
What followed was relentless trolling, meme-making, and ridicule — targeting not Mohammad Rizwan’s cricket, but his language skills. More fodder for the trolls was added a few months ago when a training clip of Rizwan went viral with similar outcomes.
Instead of lashing out or offering hollow justifications, Mohammad Rizwan provided a response that underlined why he remains so respected within cricketing circles.
For all the criticism about his English, Mohammad Rizwan’s cricketing achievements need no translation. He has been Pakistan’s most consistent white-ball performer over the past few years — a pillar at the top of the order, a gritty wicketkeeper, a highly successful captain, and a team-first cricketer whose work ethic is admired worldwide.
Language skills can be acquired; Mohammad Rizwan’s values — honesty, humility, and resilience — are far rarer.