"White-ball captaincy to be decided after Naqvi-Rizwan meeting", says Rashid Latif

Latif indicated that the decision will be made following a crucial meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Mohammad Rizwan

PHOTO: PCB

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Rashid Latif has shed light on the ongoing deliberations regarding the national team's white-ball captaincy.

In a recent post on his social media platforms, Latif indicated that the decision regarding the team's future will be made following a crucial meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Mohammad Rizwan.

"The decision regarding the captaincy for ODIs and T20s will be made after a meeting between the PCB chairman and Mohammad Rizwan. The meeting was expected to take place, but the PCB chief was not in the country," Latif posted, hinting at the potential delay in announcing the new captain for both formats.

The captaincy uncertainty comes in the wake of Babar Azam's resignation on October 2nd, a decision he announced through his social media channels. Babar's exit marked a turbulent period for Pakistan cricket, following his earlier resignation as the all-format skipper during Zaka Ashraf’s tenure as PCB chairman.

At that time, Shan Masood was appointed as the red-ball captain, while Shaheen Afridi took charge of the T20I team. After a disappointing start under Afridi, Babar was reinstated as the white-ball captain ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup during Naqvi's leadership.

With Babar stepping down, names like Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris emerged as potential candidates for the captaincy. According to reliable sources, Rizwan is now viewed as the frontrunner to lead the team in both formats.

It is worth noting that the announcement of the squads for the upcoming white-ball tours of Australia and Zimbabwe is anticipated within the next few days.

Pakistan's cricket team is scheduled to depart for Melbourne on October 29, with training sessions lined up at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on November 1 and 2. An optional practice session is also set for November 3, leading into the first ODI against Australia on November 4.

Australia-Pakistan White-Ball Series Schedule:

ODI Series

4 November: MCG, Melbourne (D/N)
8 November: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (D/N)
10 November: Perth Stadium, Perth (D/N)

T20I Series

14 November: The Gabba, Brisbane (N)
16 November: SCG, Sydney (N)
18 November: Bellerive Oval, Hobart (N)

Following the tour of Australia, Pakistan will head to Zimbabwe for a series comprising three ODIs and three T20 matches, set to run from November 20 to December 5.