On Sunday, December 22, Pakistan delivered a remarkable 36-run victory over South Africa in the third ODI, completing a 3-0 whitewash in the series. Under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan has shown excellent form in ODIs, also securing a series win against Australia earlier in the year, before their South Africa and Zimbabwe tours.
With this win, Rizwan has joined an elite group of captains, becoming the fourth Asian leader to whitewash a SENA team in SENA countries. He now shares this prestigious record with MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Mahela Jayawardene. The complete list of captains includes:
- Mahela Jayawardene (v ENG, 2006 ODIs)
- MS Dhoni (v AUS, 2016 T20Is)
- Virat Kohli (v NZ, 2020 T20Is)
- Mohammad Rizwan (v SA, 2024 ODIs)
Rizwan’s leadership journey began after Babar Azam’s resignation. His first series as captain was against Australia, where Pakistan lost the first ODI but bounced back to win two consecutive matches and clinch the series 2-1. While Pakistan lost the T20I series, Rizwan’s success in the ODIs, particularly the whitewash in South Africa, showcased his ability to lead in challenging conditions.
Rizwan has captained Pakistan in six ODIs, winning five of them. His impressive leadership has raised hopes for Pakistan’s future in international cricket, especially as the team looks ahead to the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Pakistan’s next challenge will be a two-match Test series against South Africa, with Shan Masood taking over as captain for the longer format. Nonetheless, Rizwan’s leadership has left a positive mark, earning praise from critics and strengthening Pakistan’s prospects.
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