The Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] has named Mohammad Rizwan as the T20I vice-captain for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand. Rizwan takes over the role from Shadab Khan, who is recovering from an ankle injury. This move comes after Babar Azam stepped down as captain in all formats following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Rizwan, who has previous leadership experience, will work alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi, the current T20I captain. He led Pakistan in two Tests against New Zealand in 2020 and 2021, and has been the captain of Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League since 2021. Under his leadership, Sultans won the title in 2021 and reached the final in 2022 and 2023.
“I am honored to be named as the vice-captain of Pakistan Men’s T20I side. I am thankful to the PCB for entrusting me with this responsibility. I am looking forward to working closely with the captain, coaching staff, and my team-mates to contribute to the team’s success,” Rizwan said.
Rizwan has a strong T20I record, with 2797 runs in 73 innings at an average of 49.07. However, his strike rate of 127.30 has been criticized in recent years. He has also taken 41 catches and effected 11 stumpings.
Pakistan will be looking for a fresh start after their 3-0 Test series loss against Australia. They will play five T20Is in New Zealand, with the first match scheduled for January 12 in Auckland, followed by games in Hamilton, Dunedin, and Christchurch.
