The Pakistan Cricket Board appointed wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan as the new white-ball captain and Salman Ali Agha as the vice-captain of the national team on Sunday.

“I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain,” Rizwan was quoted as saying in a press release on the PCB website.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced the appointment at a press conference in Lahore. Head of selectors Aaqib Javed was also present.

Rizwan’s development was expected, according to an Aaj News report. Naqvi’s decision to name Rizwan as captain was reportedly suggested by head coach Gary Kirsten, with selectors also supporting the move to appoint him as the white-ball captain.

The wicket-keeper batter succeeded Babar Azam who quit captaincy in shorter formats of the game earlier this month after the team’s lacklustre performance in the World Cup.

The 32-year-old cricketer previously served the white-ball team as the vice-captain. He led Multan Sultans to victory in the Pakistan Super League in 2021.

According to Rizwan, the new role is the “greatest privilege” for him and to lead the team is a “tremendous honour.” He went on to add that joining the ranks of some of Pakistan’s legendary limited-overs captains is the “icing on the cake.”

He vowed to give his best in the role and look forward to working closely with the selectors, coaches and teammates. “Together, we aim to meet and exceed the expectations of our fans and supporters.”

His first series as the skipper would be against Australia next month where Pakistan would play three ODI and T20Is. Salman will lead the T20I side in Zimbabwe as Rizwan is rested under a workload management plan.

Rizwan, who debuted in white-ball cricket in 2015, has played 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is to date, scoring 5,401 runs with four centuries and accounting for 143 dismissals behind the stumps.

He is Pakistan’s 31st captain and 12th in the T20I format.

“Pakistan cricket holds immense potential across all formats and I am confident that, with the support of God Almighty, we will build on our recent success against England to achieve even greater heights in what promises to be a challenging and busy season of white-ball cricket.”

At the press conference, Rizwan assured fans that there was no grouping within the team. “I am part of the entire Pakistan team,” he said and emphasised his commitment to unity and teamwork.

“As captain, I will not consider myself a king,” he said and expressed confidence in the team’s “fighting spirit.”

PCB Chairman Naqvi addressed concerns regarding left-handed batter Fakhar Zaman’s recent social media posts and fitness issues.

“Players are not allowed to tweet,” he said while indicating a focus on team discipline. He added that “the issue goes beyond the tweets; it’s about Fakhar’s fitness.”

Naqvi praised Azam as an “invaluable asset” to Pakistan cricket. “Babar Azam has voluntarily stepped down from the captaincy,” he stated while addressing concerns about the team’s leadership.

He expressed hope that “we all wish for Babar Azam to return to form soon.”

Naqvi also highlighted the significant role of the selection committee in the team’s recent success against England, stating, “The selection committee played a major role in our victory.”

He emphasized that all decisions were made after consultation with mentors and the selection committee, ensuring a collaborative approach to team management.