Shadab Khan is currently recovering from an ankle injury
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan as vice-captain of Pakistan's T20I team.
His first assignment will be to serve as deputy of Shaheen Afridi in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, which will be played from 12 to 21 January in Auckland, Hamilton, Dunedin and Christchurch.
Shadab, who previously served as the deputy to former Pakistan captain Babar Azam in white-ball cricket, has expressed his support for Rizwan.
Despite Shadab's absence from the T20I squad due to an ongoing recovery from an ankle injury, he congratulated Rizwan on his appointment and expressed confidence in his abilities.
"Congratulations Rizwan on being named the vice-captain of the T20I team. I know you will be a brilliant deputy to Shaheen Afridi. I urge all the fans to get behind them and support the team vs NZ," Shadab wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Congratulations @iMRizwanPak on being named the vice-captain of the T20I team. I know you will be a brilliant deputy to @iShaheenAfridi. Wishing you all the best. I urge all the fans to get behind them and support the team vs NZ. #PakistanZindabad pic.twitter.com/0S0AG4GTDB
— Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) January 8, 2024
Full squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain and wicket-keeper) Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan
Full schedule:
1st T20 – 12 January 2024 at Eden Park, Auckland
2nd T20 – 14 January 2024 at Seddon Park, Hamilton
3rd T20 – 17 January 2024 at University Oval, Dunedin
4th T20 – 19 January 2024 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
5th T20 – 21 January 2024 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch