The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced that Mohammad Rizwan will lead the national team as the new white-ball captain. In a significant move to strengthen the squad ahead of upcoming tours, Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the vice-captain.
Rizwan's leadership will commence with the upcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe, where Pakistan is scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is in each country. The PCB's decision reflects their confidence in Rizwan's abilities to guide the team through these crucial matches, especially as they prepare to defend their title at the ICC Champions Trophy.
The 32-year-old Rizwan, who made his white-ball cricket debut in 2015, has participated in 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is so far, amassing 5,401 runs, including four centuries, while also achieving 143 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. When he captains the team in the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne on November 4, he will become the 31st captain of Pakistan. Additionally, for the first T20I in Brisbane on November 14, he will be the 12th individual to lead Pakistan in this format.
Salman Ali Agha, who has been a standout performer in domestic cricket, will support Rizwan as vice-captain, providing valuable assistance and leadership experience. Salman will lead the T20I side in Zimbabwe as Rizwan is rested under a workload management plan.
PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi:
“I want to extend my congratulations to Mohammad Rizwan on his appointment as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. I am confident that Rizwan’s leadership qualities, underpinned by his deep commitment and passion for the game, will help shape this talented team into a consistently successful unit.
“Rizwan has earned the respect of his peers and colleagues through his dedication and positive attitude, and I have no doubt that these qualities, combined with his game knowledge and performance, will inspire the next generation of Pakistan cricketers.
“The PCB has always been fully committed to supporting our players and staff, and we will continue to stand by Rizwan as he takes on this important role. We are optimistic that under his leadership, Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team will once again become a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.”
The PCB is optimistic that the new leadership duo will help foster a competitive spirit within the team and build a strong foundation for future successes. The first group of players, including Rizwan and Agha, will depart for Australia on October 28, with the series set to begin shortly after their arrival.
ODI Squad for Australia tour: 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, Shaheen Shah Afridi
T20I Squad for Australia tour: 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, Usman Khan
ODI Squad for Zimbabwe tour: 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 Zimbabwe tour: 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