Rizwan takes over from Shadab Khan to support Shaheen Shah Afridi as the T20I captain, amidst changes in Pakistan’s cricket leadership
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named Mohammad Rizwan as the vice-captain of the T20I squad ahead of their upcoming series against New Zealand. Rizwan steps into the role, replacing Shadab Khan, who is recovering from an ankle injury that sidelined him for the New Zealand tour.
This appointment is part of several changes in Pakistan’s leadership hierarchy following Babar Azam’s resignation from captaincy across all formats after Pakistan’s fifth-place finish in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Rizwan, aged 31, will now work alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi, who assumes the role of captain for the T20I side.
Rizwan boasts leadership experience both internationally and domestically. He previously captained Pakistan in two Tests against New Zealand in 2020-2021 due to Babar’s injury. Additionally, as the captain of Multan Sultans since 2021 in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), he led the team to victory in 2021 and secured final berths in 2022 and 2023. Notably, Rizwan has captained in 64 out of the 238 T20 matches he has been a part of.
“It’s a privilege to be appointed as the vice-captain of Pakistan Men’s T20I side. I am grateful to the PCB for this opportunity and am eager to collaborate closely with the captain, coaching staff, and my teammates to contribute to the team’s success,” remarked Rizwan on his new role.
With an impressive T20I record, Rizwan has scored 2797 runs in 73 innings at an average of 49.07, inclusive of 25 half-centuries and one century.
While his strike rate of 127.30 has faced criticism in recent years, his contributions include 41 catches and 11 stumpings.
Pakistan, coming off a challenging 3-0 Test series against Australia, anticipate a turnaround in their fortunes as they shift to the T20 format. Scheduled to play five T20Is in New Zealand, the series kicks off on January 12 in Auckland, followed by matches in Hamilton, Dunedin, and Christchurch.
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