Mohammad Rizwan has been named vice-captain of the Pakistan T20I team by the Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] in advance of the group’s five-match series against New Zealand. The wicket-keeper batsman takes over for Shadab Khan, whose ankle injury prevented him from participating in the New Zealand tour and is currently recovering.
Following Babar Azam’s resignation as captain of all formats of the game subsequent to the 2023 ODI World Cup, the Pakistan leadership group and board structure have undergone a series of transformations, the most recent being the appointment of Rizwan. Pakistan was eliminated in the round of 16 with four victories in nine contests, placing them in fifth place on the standings. As the team’s commander, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rizwan, age 31, will serve as the team’s assistant coach.
Rizwan possesses previous leadership experience that spans across national and international boundaries. In late 2020 and early 2021, he captained Pakistan in two Tests against New Zealand after Babar was ruled out with a fractured right thumb. Since 2021, Rizwan has served as the captain of the Multan Sultans in the PSL. Under his direction, the Sultans qualified for the finals in 2022 and 2023 and claimed the championship in 2021. He has held the leadership position in 64 of the 238 T20s he has participated in.
“It is an honour to be named as the vice-captain of Pakistan Men’s T20I side. I am thankful to the PCB for entrusting me with this responsibility. I am looking forward to working closely with the captain, coaching staff, and my team-mates to contribute to the team’s success,” Rizwan said.
With 25 fifty-fives, one hundred, and 2,797 runs scored in 73 innings at an average of 49.07, Rizwan has amassed an outstanding T20I record. In contrast, his strikeout percentage of 127.30 has been criticized in recent years. Additionally, he has 11 stumpings and 41 catches.
Pakistan, who have just suffered a disheartening 3-0 Test Aseries loss to Australia, will be hoping that a change in format will inspire optimism. Five Twenty20 Internationals are on the itinerary for them in New Zealand, with the first beginning in Auckland on January 12. After that, they will proceed to Dunedin for the second Twenty20 International before returning to Christchurch for the final two matches.
