Mohammad Rizwan replaces Babar Azam as Pakistan white-ball captain
Continuing the captaincy musical chairs in the country's men's cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan as the new white-ball skipper on Sunday (October 27).
Rizwan replaces Babar Azam at the helm. The star batter stepped down from white-ball captaincy for the second time on October 2. This was only six months after his re-appointment after he had stepped down from captaincy following Pakistan's poor performance in the 2023 World Cup. In between his two stints, senior pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi oversaw a big defeat in a T20I series in New Zealand.
“I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain," Rizwan said in a statement released by PCB. "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. Joining the ranks of some of Pakistan’s legendary limited-overs captains truly is the icing on the cake."
He added:
“I am committed to giving my absolute best in this role and look forward to working closely with the selectors, coaches and my immensely talented teammates. Together, we aim to meet and exceed the expectations of our fans and supporters. Pakistan cricket holds immense potential across all formats and I am confident that, with the support of God Almighty, 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.”
Rizwan has never captained Pakistan in white-ball cricket but has abundant leadership experience in domestic cricket and the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
"Rizwan has earned the respect of his peers" - Mohsin Naqvi
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi lauded Rizwan in his official statement, singing praises of his dedication and knowledge.
“I want to extend my congratulations to Mohammad Rizwan on his appointment as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. 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," Naqvi said.
He added:
“Rizwan has earned the respect of his peers and colleagues through his dedication and positive attitude, and I have no doubt that these qualities, combined with his game knowledge and performance, will inspire the next generation of Pakistan cricketers. The PCB has always been fully committed to supporting our players and staff, and we will continue to stand by Rizwan as he takes on this important role. We are optimistic that under his leadership, Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team will once again become a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.”
Rizwan's tenure will start with a three-match ODI and a three-match T20I series against Australia on November 4.