On Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named Mohammad Rizwan the new captain of the white-ball cricket team and Agha Salman vice-captain.
This decision followed the October 2 announcement by former captain Babar Azam, who resigned as captain in one-day internationals and T20 internationals, expressing his desire to concentrate on playing.
Following Azam’s resignation, the national selection committee was charged with selecting the new leadership for the white-ball team. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, speaking in Lahore, confirmed Rizwan and Salman’s appointments.
“Our selection committee has diligently reviewed each candidate, leading to today’s announcement,” Naqvi stated. He revealed that the committee finalized the squads after meeting on Saturday night.
Naqvi praised Azam as a significant asset to Pakistani cricket. He shared that Azam had reached out personally to discuss his decision to step down, seeking advice from his coaches. “We respect his decision as it allows him to focus more on his game,” Naqvi added.
After Azam stepped down, internal discussions began with the selection committee and mentors, leading to a consensus on Rizwan’s and Salman’s leadership roles. Naqvi expressed his confidence in their abilities and the future of Pakistani cricket.
Naqvi addressed queries regarding player fitness and discipline regarding Fakhar Zaman. He explained that Zaman’s exclusion from the central contract was primarily due to failing the fitness test, not just his controversial tweet about Babar Azam.
Regarding team dynamics, Rizwan noted the positive impact of integrating young talent and the alignment between selectors and team management in fostering this development.
