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On Sunday, October 27, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Rizwan as the side’s new white-ball captain after Babar Azam relinquished captaincy earlier this month. While the decision from the former skipper came as a shocking move as he did not have a successful stint in his second tenure with the men’s cricket team, including their group stage exit from the T20 World Cup 2024 in June.
Days after the Pakistan men’s cricket team have been without a white-ball captain, the PCB finally put an end to the ongoing speculations as they named Rizwan as the new white-ball captain. The announcement was made during a press conference in Lahore on Sunday by the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.
Salman Ali Agha named vice-captain; to lead Men in Green in T20I series against Zimbabwe
The veteran wicketkeeper-batter, Mohammed Rizwan will take the charge for the first time as they lock horns with Australia in three-match ODI as well as T20I series from November 4. Meanwhile, Rizwan will continue to lead the side in ODIs against Zimbabwe, Salman Ali Agha, who has been named his deputy, will take the helm in the T20I series against the Chevrons in absence of Rizwan.
Notably, Rizwan has never led the Men in Green in white-ball format but has captained them in two Tests during their tour of New Zealand in 2020-21. Moreover, under his captaincy in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Multan Sultans clinched the title in 2021 and finished as runners-up in the following seasons, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Pakistan’s squads for white-ball series against Australia and Zimbabwe
ODI squad vs Australia: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
T20I squad vs Australia: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan.
ODI squad vs Zimbabwe: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir.
T20I squad vs Zimbabwe: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.
