Mohammad Rizwan Appointed as Pakistan's New White-Ball Captain
During the same press conference, Naqvi clarified that Babar Azam's decision to step down was voluntary. Babar expressed a desire to focus on his individual performance rather than captaincy responsibilities.
In a significant leadership change, Mohammad Rizwan has been named Pakistan's new white-ball captain, replacing Babar Azam, with Salman Ali Agha serving as his vice-captain. The announcement was made by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi shortly after the squad for the upcoming tours of Australia and Zimbabwe was revealed.
Naqvi emphasized the importance of supporting Rizwan and nurturing young talent, stating, “We will give him all the support that is needed. We need to back our young talent, and we also need to strengthen our domestic cricket structure.”
Rizwan's Experience and Performance
Mohammad Rizwan has an impressive track record, having played 74 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 102 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for Pakistan. He boasts a batting average of 40.15 in ODIs and an even more remarkable 48.72 in T20Is, showcasing his value to the team.
Return of Key Players for Australia Series
Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah have been recalled for the ODI and T20I series against Australia after being dropped from the Test squad. However, the trio will be rested for the subsequent series in Zimbabwe. The Australia tour is scheduled from November 4 to November 18, while the matches in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, will take place from November 24 to December 5.
While Rizwan will participate in the Australia matches and Zimbabwe ODIs, he is set to be rested for the T20Is in Zimbabwe. The ODI squad for Australia includes several uncapped players: Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Saim Ayub. Additionally, Jahandad Khan and Salman Ali Agha are making their debut in the T20I squad.
Central Contracts Awarded
In related news, the PCB has awarded 12-month central contracts to 25 men's cricketers for the 2024-25 international season, effective from July 1, 2024. The contracts were established based on a three-year agreement between the players and the PCB. Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been placed in Category A, while Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Shan Masood are in Category B. Categories C and D comprise nine and eleven players, respectively.
This restructuring in leadership and player contracts signals a new direction for Pakistan cricket as they prepare for the upcoming international fixtures.
