Pakistan and Australia recently locked horns against each other in a three-match Test series, which the hosts won 3-0 to secure the top spot on the World Test Championship points table. Pakistan team was being captained by Shan Masood, who replaced Babar Azam as skipper of the red-ball side just days before they toured Australia. Babar Azam was sacked as captain from all three formats after a dismal ODI World Cup 2023 campaign in India, where Pakistan once again failed to qualify for the final stage of the competition. 

3 things you need to know

• Pakistan lost the three-match Test series against Australia 3-0
• Pakistan have never won a Test series on Australian soil
• Pakistan are ranked sixth in the WTC 2023-25 points table

Also Read: 'I am not happy': AB de Villiers blames T20 cricket for short India-South Africa series

Mohammad Rizwan refuses to shake hands with the McGrath family

Meanwhile, an incident unfolded during the third Test match of the series between Pakistan and Australia in Sydney. During the opening day of the Test match, Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan refused to shake hands with female members of the Glenn McGrath family, who had come to mark the start of the ‘Pink Test’. 

Every year since 2009, Cricket Australia in association with the Glenn McGrath's Foundation organises a pink Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to raise awareness about breast cancer in women. McGrath's wife had died of the same illness in 2008. The event helps raise money as well. 

Why did Rizwan refuse to shake hands with female members only?

Mohammad Rizwan refused to shake hands with female members of the McGrath family because of his religious beliefs. Rizwan is a follower of Islam and he is known to openly practice his religion even on cricket grounds. He has refused to interact with female broadcasters and fans on multiple occasions in the past. 

Rizwan has also found himself surrounded by controversies for offering namaz on cricket fields and public roads in the past. The recent incident during the third Test between Pakistan and Australia has sparked a fresh row on social media with fans criticising Rizwan for bringing religion into everything.