Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced Mohammad Rizwan as the new captain of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team. Rizwan, a seasoned wicketkeeper-batter, will lead the national team in upcoming One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) tours of Australia and Zimbabwe. The announcement also detailed that Salman Ali Agha will serve as the vice-captain, stepping in as T20I captain during the Zimbabwe tour as part of a workload management plan for Rizwan.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the 32-year-old Rizwan, who debuted in white-ball cricket in 2015, has become a pivotal player for the team. To date, he has played 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is, accumulating 5,401 runs which include four centuries, and has been responsible for 143 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. His appointment marks him as Pakistan’s 31st ODI captain and the 12th to lead in T20Is. Rizwan’s leadership debut will take place in Melbourne on November 4, during the first ODI against Australia.
PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi expressed confidence in Rizwan’s abilities to lead, citing his leadership qualities, deep commitment, and passion for cricket as key factors for his appointment. Naqvi also emphasized the board’s continuous support for its players and staff, expressing optimism about Pakistan’s future in white-ball cricket under Rizwan’s captaincy.
The player squads for the tours were also announced, with Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha leading a team composed of both seasoned players and promising newcomers across both formats. The tours are scheduled to begin with the ODI series in Australia from November 4 to 18, followed by the T20I series. Subsequently, the teams will head to Zimbabwe for matches from late November through early December.