On Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that Agha Salman would serve as vice-captain, while Muhammad Rizwan would take on the role of captain for Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team.
This decision followed former captain Babar Azam’s October 2 announcement on the X platform, where he shared his decision to step down as captain of Pakistan’s One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) teams to focus on his individual performance.
With Azam stepping down, the PCB’s selection committee was tasked with appointing the new leadership. During a press conference in Lahore, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that Rizwan and Salman were appointed as captain and vice-captain for the ODIs and T20Is, respectively. The PCB also announced the squad for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe and Australia.
In an interesting decision, Rizwan was excluded from Pakistan’s T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series. Naqvi expressed confidence in the committee’s extensive review process, stating that after thorough consideration, a finalized team list was released. He also mentioned that the selection committee had worked late into Saturday night to finalize squads for the upcoming Australia and Zimbabwe tours.
Chairman Naqvi praised Babar Azam, calling him a “valuable asset” to Pakistan’s cricket. He shared that Azam approached him about relinquishing the captaincy role to prioritize his game, though Azam reportedly did not receive feedback from the PCB. Naqvi conveyed that the PCB consulted with coaches and hoped for Azam to regain his distinctive focus and style.
Following Azam’s decision to step down, the PCB began internal discussions involving five mentors and selection committee members. It was agreed that Salman should be named vice-captain and Rizwan should take over as captain in place of Babar. Naqvi stated he had met with Rizwan and affirmed the importance of supporting young talent and honoring domestic cricket efforts, wishing the new leadership success.
Highlighting the selectors’ dedication, Naqvi commended the selection committee’s round-the-clock work, noting their contribution to recent victories, particularly during the England Test series. Aqib Javed, a selection committee member, pointed out that the team’s cricket style varies depending on the format and location. He was upbeat about Pakistan’s cricketing prospects.
Rizwan, in his remarks, acknowledged the differences between senior and junior players observed during the Champions Cup and emphasized the collective efforts of mentors, team management, and selectors to foster young talent. The new captain declared that elevating young players to the international level was a top priority.
Addressing a question regarding Fakhar Zaman’s contract status, Naqvi explained that the PCB found Zaman’s social media post concerning, but his exclusion from a central contract was primarily due to unsatisfactory fitness. Zaman received a show-cause notice after his social media post, which criticized Babar’s exclusion from the England Test series. Naqvi stated that players should not challenge selection committee decisions and confirmed that Fakhar would need to pass a fitness test following the show-cause notice.
