"If you don't make him captain at this time, then it is a loss for Pakistan" - Basit Ali endorses Mohammad Rizwan for the role
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali believes the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must consider Mohammad Rizwan as the next captain. Basit pointed to the recent Champions One-day Cup match between the Markhors and Stallions, opining that the wicketkeeper-batter knows how to read the pitch, a skill that Babar Azam lacks.
The fixture between the Markhors and Stallions took place on Sunday, September 15, at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. While the Markhors, led by Rizwan, managed only 231, they skittled the opposition for 105 to win by 126 runs.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the 53-year-old said Rizwan has shown promise as captain and that the men's national team will rue if they don't give him the responsibility at this stage.
"The way Rizwan led the side, he proved there is no better skipper than him. He has shown it with his captaincy. He read the pitch; it is a big thing. Even Babar can't do that. I am not even talking about Shan. If you don't make him captain at this time, then it is a loss for Pakistan. This is the best time you should make Rizwan the captain," Basit Ali said. (6:23)
Rizwan also has an impressive resume as captain in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Under him, Multan Sultans won the tournament in 2021 and finished as the runners-up in the next two years.
Mohammad Rizwan likely to become Pakistan's limited-overs skipper: Reports
A report from Geo News has indicated that Mohammad Rizwan is in line to replace Babar Azam as Pakistan's white-ball captain. Babar, who started his second stint as the skipper at the T20 World Cup 2024, could not take Pakistan beyond the group stage.
Should the 32-year-old wicketkeeper-batter help the Markhors win the Champions One-day Cup tournament, he will be the firm favorite to become the captain. The national team's next limited-overs assignment is the tour of Australia in November.
The right-handed batter could also succeed Shan Masood as the Test captain ahead of the England series, given the latter has lost his first five matches as the skipper.