Mohammad Rizwan Named Pakistan White-Ball Captain Ahead of Australia Tour
The squad sees the return of Babar Azam, as well as fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who were rested during Pakistan's last two Tests against England. However, both Babar and Afridi will be given a break for the Zimbabwe tour.
Wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed as the new captain of Pakistan's white-ball cricket team, succeeding Babar Azam, who stepped down from the role recently. Rizwan’s first assignment as captain will be a challenging tour against Australia, featuring three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) scheduled from November 4 to 18.
Following the Australia series, Rizwan will lead the team in a series of three ODIs against Zimbabwe, although he will not participate in the accompanying T20I matches from November 24 to December 5.
The ODI squad features several uncapped players, including Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Saim Ayub. Additionally, Jahandad Khan and Salman Ali Agha will make their debut in the T20I squad.
Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain also makes his return to the ODI team after last playing in January 2023 against New Zealand.
Rizwan will have a core group of experienced players by his side, with four others—Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, and Muhammad Irfan Khan—selected for both formats.
In recent news, it was reported that Pakistan's prominent fast bowlers, Afridi and Rauf, have experienced a demotion in their central contracts. Afridi has dropped from Category A to B, while Rauf has fallen from B to C.
As Rizwan steps into his new role, the focus will be on leading a talented squad through a busy period ahead, starting with the Australia series, where they aim to showcase their capabilities in white-ball cricket.
