Lahore: Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan was appointed as the captain of the national cricket team for white-ball formats, with Salman Ali Agha named as vice-captain.
The announcement comes as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I tours of Australia and Zimbabwe, scheduled from November 4 to December 5.
Rizwan, 32, who made his white-ball debut in 2015, has established himself as a vital player in the squad. He has played 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is, accumulating 5,401 runs, including four centuries, and has been instrumental behind the stumps with 143 dismissals.
His leadership will commence with the first ODI against Australia in Melbourne on November 4, making him the 31st captain in Pakistan's ODI history. In the T20I format, he will be the 12th captain, starting with the first T20I against Australia in Brisbane on 14 November.
Expressing his gratitude, Rizwan stated, “I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. Representing Pakistan on the global stage is the greatest privilege, and to now be entrusted with leading such a talented and exciting group of players is a tremendous honour. Joining the ranks of some of Pakistan’s legendary limited-overs captains truly is the icing on the cake."
He emphasised his commitment to the role and the support he seeks from selectors, coaches, and teammates to meet the expectations of fans, stating, “Pakistan cricket holds immense potential across all formats, and I am confident that, with the support of God Almighty, we will build on our recent success against England to achieve even greater heights.”
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi congratulated Rizwan on his appointment, expressing confidence in his leadership qualities.
“Rizwan has earned the respect of his peers and colleagues through his dedication and positive attitude, and I have no doubt that these qualities, combined with his game knowledge and performance, will inspire the next generation of Pakistan cricketers," Naqvi remarked.
ODI squad for Australia: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi
T20I squad for Australia: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan
ODI squad for Zimbabwe: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir
T20I squad for Zimbabwe: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan