Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan bats through the second Twenty20 worldwide cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Seddon Park in Hamilton on January 14, 2024. — AFP
LAHORE: Wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed because the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket groups, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi introduced on Sunday.
The event got here after Babar Azam, on October 2, stepped down because the captain of white-ball groups, saying he needed “to prioritise my performance, enjoy batting, and spend quality time with family”.
Rizwan’s first project because the skipper might be a three-match one-day worldwide (ODI) and T20I sequence in opposition to Australia commencing from November 4.
Moreover, Naqvi introduced that spin-allrounder Salman Ali Agha has been named vice-captain of the Pakistan cricket crew.
Nonetheless, Agha will lead the T20I aspect in Zimbabwe as Rizwan is rested underneath a workload administration plan, said a press launch issued by the cricket governing physique.
The 32-year-old Rizwan, who debuted in white-ball cricket in 2015, has performed 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is up to now, scoring 5,401 runs with 4 centuries and accounting for 143 dismissals behind the stumps.
As he leads the crew within the opening ODI in opposition to Australia in Melbourne on 4 November, Rizwan will turn out to be Pakistan’s thirty first captain. For the primary T20I in Brisbane on 14 November, he would be the twelfth to captain Pakistan within the format.
Addressing a presser alongside the newly-appointed captain and selectors, the PCB chief mentioned after Babar resigned from the captaincy, the board began consultations with the choice committee and mentors.
“It was nearly a unanimous opinion that Rizwan should be the captain and Salman should be vice-captain,” he mentioned, including that each the gamers had been involved with the selectors and he met Rizwan yesterday as properly.
He wished each the gamers the very best and prayed for his or her success whereas stressing the necessity to promote younger expertise and respect home cricket.
The chairman additionally praised the choice committee for “working non-stop” for the Two Checks in opposition to England — which the Inexperienced Shirts gained and secured a much-need sequence victory after three years.
Terming Babar an “asset” for the Pakistan cricket crew, Naqvi asserted that the batter contacted him and refused to play as captain. “It was his [Azam] decision […] He wanted to focus on his game.”
He additional mentioned that they need the previous captain to return to his kind — referring to a dip in his batting efficiency throughout all codecs.
“A lot has been done, but much remains to be achieved,” he added.
For his half, Rizwan acknowledged the newly-announced squads for the Australia tour, saying: “It’s a balanced side comprising experienced as well as youngsters.”
“Our long-term focus is to achieve a good combination in the squad,” he mentioned, noting that within the white-ball format, the main focus ought to be on “fitness”.
It is a creating story and is being up to date with additional particulars.
