Mohammad Rizwan replaces Babar Azam as Pakistan's white-ball captain

In a major development for Pakistan Cricket, the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has announced star batter Mohammad Rizwan as the new white-ball skipper. The decision to appoint Rizwan came after Babar Azam stepped down from the position due to Pakistan’s subpar performances in recent times. 

It is worth noting that the resignation was Babar’s second one after he stepped down following the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, Babar was reappointed only months later, given the reigns of the white-ball sides.

Pakistan took to social media and announced Rizwan’s appointment. Interestingly, there had been multiple reports suggesting that Rizwan was the frontrunner for the role as the PCB had already tried Shaheen Afridi, who was sacked after just a solitary T20I series as captain.

PCB president Mohsin Naqvi also confirmed that Rizwan was being seen as a captaincy candidate. “There was a nearly unanimous opinion that Rizwan should be the captain after Babar and Salman should be vice-captain, they were already in talks with selectors and after that, I met Rizwan yesterday as well,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by Dawn.

Rizwan to begin captaincy journey with Australia tour

With an exceptional Test series win against England at home, Pakistan will next tour Australia for a white-ball series. Both the sides will play three ODIs and as many T20Is, with the ODI matches tol be played in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth on November 4, 8, and 10 and the T20Is scheduled in Brisbane, Sydney, and Hobart on November 14, 16, and 18. 

The Australia tour would be Rizwan’s first outing as skipper. The ace wicket keeper batter will aim to get off to the best of starts and end Pakistan’s run of poor form in white-ball cricket with an away win against Australia.