New Delhi: Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has emerged as a favourite to become the Pakistan team’s captain in the white-ball formats. According to a source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board, Rizwan could be named the skipper of white-ball teams when the limited-over squads are announced for series in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The Pakistani selectors are close to coming to a conclusion after holding meetings with the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The revamped committee also consulted white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten over the selection of new white-ball skipper.
“The third Test against England finishes on 28th October and the squad has to leave for Australia the next day so the selectors would be announcing the white ball squad by Sunday,” a reliable source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.
“Rizwan because of his seniority, his reliability as a player and because of his experience of leading teams well in domestic cricket and PSL is a front-runner to become white-ball captain,” the source said.
Star batter Babar Azam stepped down as Pakistan skipper earlier this month to put full focus on his batting.
Pakistan set for long white-ball overseas season
Pakistan are scheduled to to play nine ODIs and as many T20Is in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The white-ball leg begins with the Australia tour in early November.
Before returning home, Pakistan will also play two Tests against South Africa.
With selectors having the full power to pick the teams including the captain, Aqib Javed, Azhar Ali and Aleem Dar have zeroed in on Rizwan. The selectors have even held talks with Rizwan and sought his willingness to take over the reins.
Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah are likely to be selected for the white-ball squad. The trio was dropped for the last two Tests against England.
Pakistan completed a sensational 152-run win over England in the second Test in Multan to level the three-match series.
The Men In Green went into the match with a spin-heavy attack on the same pitch, where they were handed a drubbing in the opening Test last week. But the gamble paid off as spin twins – Noman Ali (11) and Sajid Khan (9) – picked up all 20 English wickets, as the visitors, chasing 261 runs, were skittled out for 144 in the opening session of Day 5.
The stunning win for the hosts has set up the series nicely ahead of the series finale which will be played in Rawalpindi from October 24 onwards.
