Not Shaheen Afridi but THIS 32-year-old is all set to replace Babar Azam as Pakistan’s white ball skipper

Mohammad Rizwan is set to lead Pakistan’s white-ball teams in the upcoming Australia series, following Babar Azam’s ODI captaincy resignation after the 2023 World Cup.

New Delhi: Pakistan is set to introduce a new captain for their white-ball cricket team in the upcoming series against Australia. This follows Babar Azam’s resignation as ODI captain after Pakistan’s disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup campaign in India. While Babar recently returned as the T20I captain, the ODI leadership role remains officially vacant.

According to Geo News, Mohammad Rizwan is set to become the new captain of Pakistan’s white-ball teams, ending speculation about the leadership role following Babar Azam’s resignation. While many anticipated Shaheen Afridi as a potential candidate, the board has reportedly chosen Rizwan to lead the team in both ODI and T20 formats.

Shaheen Afridi initially replaced Babar Azam as T20I captain but was removed from the role after leading for just one series. Babar then returned to the leadership group, captaining Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, despite the change, Pakistan’s campaign ended disappointingly, with the Men in Green exiting during the league stage.

Pakistan have not played an ODI since November 2023, and though selectors named an ODI captain earlier, the position remained in question following Babar Azam’s resignation. According to reports, Gary Kirsten recommended Mohammad Rizwan for the captaincy, a suggestion that received the selectors’ backing.

Pakistan is set to tour Australia for a limited-overs series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. The ODI matches are scheduled for November 4, 8, and 10, followed by the T20Is on November 14, 16, and 18. The visitors will aim to extend their strong form abroad in this highly anticipated series.

Pakistan bounced back from a lackluster home performance to secure a commanding 152-run victory over England. Although England started the series with a win, momentum has since shifted in Pakistan’s favor, leaving the visitors struggling to regain control.

Pakistan’s Test team might undergo adjustments as selectors consider retaining players from the previous squad for the upcoming series. Pakistan is set to return to red-ball cricket against South Africa in December 2024. However, it remains uncertain whether Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi will be included in the Test squad.