Muhammad Rizwan named Pakistan’s white-ball captain, replacing Babar Azam

PTI, Oct 27, 2024, 6:25 PM IST

Wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan (Credit: AP / PTI)

Lahore: Wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan was on Sunday named Pakistan’s ODI and T20 captain, replacing Babar Azam, as the selectors announced the squads for the white-ball tours of Australia and Zimbabwe beginning November 4.

Salman Ali Agha was made vice-captain for all future ODI and T20 international assignments.

Pakistan will play three ODIs and as many T20Is in their Australia tour, beginning with the first match in Melbourne (ODI) on November 4, and that will be Rizwan’s first assignment as captain.

Agha will lead the T20I side in Zimbabwe as Rizwan is rested under a workload management plan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe — for three ODIs and three T20Is — is from November 24 to December 5. The first match — an ODI — will be played in Bulawayo.

Babar, pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah returned to the Pakistan team for the Australia tour after being sidelined for two Tests against England. However, they have been rested for the Zimbabwe tour.

The PCB first announced the squads for the two white-ball tours before Rizwan was named the skipper for the ODI and T20I assignments in Australia, as well as the 50-over contest in Zimbabwe.

Many new faces have been brought into the squads, while senior players like Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan missed out on selection.

Fakhar is facing an inquiry from the Pakistan Cricket Board for tweeting in support of Babar before the selectors dropped him for the England Tests.

In some bold steps, the selectors have decided to use the ODIs and T20Is in Zimbabwe to test new players.

PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi told a media conference here on Sunday that Babar “didn’t want to be captain” and “no one forced him to resign as captain”.

“Babar is an asset. He spoke to me and he told me he didn’t want to be captain and let me make it clear that no one forced him to resign as captain. It is his own personal decision. He had sought advice before resigning. He wants to focus on his batting,” Naqvi said.

“After Babar’s decision I spoke to all selectors and five mentors and discussed the issue and everyone felt unanimously that Rizwan should be made captain in white ball with Salman Ali Agha as his vice captain.” He also said that Aaqib Javed is presently convenor of all selection committee meetings.

“We have not announced a chief selector but he is convening the meetings and I am grateful to them for the hard work they have put in to turn around the fortunes of the team.” The 32-year-old Rizwan, who debuted in white-ball cricket in 2015, has played in 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is till date, scoring 5,401 runs with four centuries and accounting for 143 dismissals behind the stumps.

When he leads the team in the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne on November 4, Rizwan will become Pakistan’s 31st captain.

In the first T20I in Brisbane on November 14, he will be the 12th to captain Pakistan in the format.

“I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. Representing Pakistan on the global stage is the greatest privilege and to now be entrusted with leading such a talented and exciting group of players is a tremendous honour,” Rizwan said in the PCB statement.

“Joining the ranks of some of Pakistan’s legendary limited-overs captains truly is the icing on the cake.” He said he is committed to giving his “absolute best” in the new role and look forward to working closely with the selectors, coaches and “the immensely talented teammates”.

“Pakistan cricket holds immense potential across all formats … we will build on our recent success against England to achieve even greater heights in what promises to be a challenging and busy season of white-ball cricket.” Naqvi said he is optimistic that under Rizwan’s leadership, Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team will once again become a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.

“I am confident that Rizwan’s leadership qualities, underpinned by his deep commitment and passion for the game, will help shape this talented team into a consistently successful unit.” Pakistan squads for Australia and Zimbabwe tours: ODI squad for Australia tour: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

T20I squad for Australia tour: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan.

ODI squad for Zimbabwe tour: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir.

T20I squad for Zimbabwe tour: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.