Mohammad Rizwan Replaces Babar Azam As Pakistan’s White-Ball Captain – News18

Last Updated:October 27, 2024, 17:29 IST

Mohammad Rizwan was announced as the new captain of Pakistan’s ODIs and T20I teams, replacing Babar Azam.

Babar Azam (left) and Mohammad Rizwan. (AP Photo)

Mohammad Rizwan is the new captain of Pakistan’s ODIs and T20I teams, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced in a press conference in Lahore on Sunday.

Rizwan replaces Babar Azam, who had earlier stepped down. Agha Salman has been appointed as vice-captain.

ALSO READ | Pakistan Cricket Board Hands Central Contract to 25 Players: Babar, Rizwan in Category A, Fakhar Zaman Misses Out

Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been demoted in the new central contracts offered to 25 players by PCB. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were retained on the top tier contracts, while fast bowler Naseem Shah, test captain Shan Masood and Afridi are in category B. The PCB didn’t give a reason why Afridi had been downgraded but did say Masood’s contract level was subject to whether he continues to lead the national team in red-ball cricket.

The new contracts are from July 1, 2024 to June 30 next year.

The notable omissions from the list are batters Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, along with all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz. The PCB didn’t say why contracts were not offered to these three players.

Spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who bagged 39 wickets in Pakistan’s two convincing victories against England in the test series, are in category C. However, the PCB said left-arm spinner Ali’s contract is subject to his fitness.

All-rounder Shadab Khan and fast bowler Haris Rauf were also downgraded apparently because of Pakistan’s below-par performances in white-ball cricket this year, which included an early exit from T20 World Cup where it lost group matches against the U.S. and India.

The PCB said as part of its “strategy to incentivize, encourage and reward talented and emerging cricketers,” five players — Khurram Shahzad, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Irfan Khan and Usman Khan — were offered central contracts for the first time.

Pakistan squad for Australia tour:

ODIs: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi.

T20Is: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan.

Pakistan squad for Zimbabwe tour:

ODIs: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir.

T20Is: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan.

(with inputs from Agencies)

Location :

Lahore, Pakistan