Amid ongoing captaincy concerns within the Pakistan cricket team, wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan is emerging as a strong contender to potentially replace Babar Azam as captain, particularly for white-ball formats. Sources suggest that Rizwan’s appointment could be imminent, with a decision likely to be made later this year, possibly before the team’s tour of Australia in November.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced the formation of five teams for the Champions One-Day Cup, with Rizwan, along with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Haris, and Saud Shakeel, appointed as captains of their respective teams. This decision has sparked speculation that Babar’s role as captain might be under review, as he was not given the opportunity to lead in this tournament. This absence has led to conjecture that a leadership change might be on the horizon.
The discussions about captaincy are believed to involve White-ball Head Coach Gary Kirsten, who reportedly had conversations with both the cricket board officials and Babar in July about the future of the captaincy. If Rizwan is appointed, he may initially be given leadership responsibilities for the one-day international (ODI) and Twenty20 (T20) formats, with a possibility of extending to all three formats in the future.
Babar Azam was reappointed as the white-ball captain on March 31, following his announcement in November 2023 that he would step down from captaincy across all formats. Shan Masood was subsequently appointed as Test captain. Despite these changes, the team has struggled with performance issues. The recent whitewash in the Test series against Bangladesh and continued poor showings in the T20 World Cup 2024 have intensified scrutiny and criticism from fans.
Rizwan’s potential leadership role has generated considerable interest. His solid performances and leadership qualities have made him a strong candidate for the role. If appointed, his leadership style and experience could bring a new dynamic to the team, aiming to address the ongoing challenges and improve the squad’s performance in international cricket.
The PCB’s decision regarding the captaincy will be closely watched, as the team prepares for upcoming international fixtures and seeks to regain form and confidence in the lead-up to major tournaments.
