Muhammad Rizwan Named Pakistan’s White-Ball Captain, Replacing Babar Azam

In a significant leadership change, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan as the new captain of Pakistan’s white-ball teams, replacing Babar Azam. The decision was announced on October 27, 2024, during a press conference in Lahore.

Babar Azam stepped down from the role of white-ball captain earlier this month, citing a desire to focus on his batting and spend more time with his family. His decision came after Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The PCB, after consulting with head coach Gary Kirsten and the selectors, unanimously agreed that Rizwan was the right choice to lead the team.

Rizwan’s Leadership Journey

Rizwan, who made his international debut in 2015, has been a consistent performer for Pakistan in both ODI and T20 formats. He has played 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is, scoring over 5,400 runs and taking 143 dismissals behind the stumps. His leadership skills were also recognized when he captained the Multan Sultans to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) title in 2021.

Vice-Captain Appointment

Salman Ali Agha has been named the vice-captain for all future ODI and T20 international assignments. Agha will lead the T20I side in Zimbabwe, as Rizwan will be rested under a workload management plan.

Rizwan’s first assignment as captain will be the tour of Australia, where Pakistan will play three ODIs and three T20Is starting on November 4, 2024. The series will be followed by a tour of Zimbabwe, where Pakistan will play three ODIs and three T20Is from November 24 to December 5, 2024.

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