Wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan would succeed right-handed batter Babar Azam as Pakistan’s new captain in white-ball cricket, sources said on Saturday.
They added that Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has decided to appoint Rizwan as the captain of the T20 and ODI teams.
Azam, once the world’s top-ranking batter, announced his resignation from captaincy earlier this month. He was leading the national cricket team in the shorter formats of the game. He announced his decision after the team’s lacklustre performance in the World Cup.
Rizwan is serving the white-ball team as the vice-captain. He led Multan Sultans to victory in the Pakistan Super League in 2021.
The wicket-keeper batter’s meeting with the PCB chief concluded in Rawalpindi on Saturday.
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.
Moreover, Salman Ali Agha is being proposed for the position of vice-captain.
The meeting between Naqvi and Rizwan was described as “pleasant and conducted in a positive atmosphere, with Rizwan seen smiling as he left the meeting room.”
The captaincy update came as Pakistan thrashed England by nine wickets after Noman Ali and Sajid Khan delivered a spin masterclass, winning the Test series on home soil after three years.
“We’d like to dedicate this to the people of Pakistan, who’ve been through a lot,” said skipper Shan Masood, who had lost his previous two series – 3-0 to Australia and 2-0 to Bangladesh – since taking charge last year.
On Saturday, Rizwan became the fifth Pakistan wicketkeeper to cross 2,000 runs in Test cricket while playing against England in Rawalpindi. It was his 57th Test innings.
He joined an elite group of Pakistani wicketkeeper-batters, with Sarfaraz Ahmed holding the top spot at 3031 runs across 95 innings.
