Mohammad Rizwan approached to lead Pakistan after Babar Azam? Fresh news reveals truth

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is currently looking for a new white-ball captain following star batter Babar Azam's resignation from the position.

Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan is seen as a likely contender for the role, but the Pakistan Cricket Board is yet to finalize Babar Azam's successor as skipper.

Babar Azam was reinstated as Pakistan's white-ball captain in April this year. Pacer Shaheen Afridi was sacked after only one series as the skipper of the T20I side.

However, Babar's second tenure as skipper was disappointing. The Men in Green suffered a group-stage exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.

The 29-year-old cricketer announced his resignation in a social media post on Wednesday, October 2.

Babar revealed that he was unable to manage the workload, which is a key reason for stepping down. The Pakistan Cricket Board also accepted his decision to resign from his leadership role.

Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, and Shaheen Afridi are being considered as candidates for supporting Mohammad Rizwan, who is the leading candidate for the ODIs and T20Is.

However, the white-ball coach, Gary Kirsten, and selectors reportedly are concerned about managing his workload.

There Has Been No Consultation With Mohammad Rizwan - Report

According to Cricket Pakistan's report, Mohammad Rizwan has not been consulted regarding the captaincy with the Pakistan Cricket Board yet. The report added that Rizwan has not been included in any team management meetings.

"Sources indicate that there has been no consultation with the opening batter concerning selection matters, and he has not been invited to any team management meetings related to the T20 World Cup or the Bangladesh Test series. This lack of communication raises questions about the decision-making process within the PCB regarding the leadership transition," reported Cricket Pakistan.

Mohammad Rizwan To Approach The Situation Thoughtfully

The report added that Rizwan would handle the situation carefully if offered the captaincy. Rizwan reportedly wants to address his concerns regarding how previous captains have been treated before making any decisions.

"If an offer for captaincy is extended to Rizwan, he is expected to approach the situation thoughtfully. According to these close sources, he intends to express his concerns about the treatment of previous captains before making any decisions," added Cricket Pakistan.

Pakistan's upcoming white-ball assessment is a three-match ODI and T20I series against Australia.

They will face Zimbabwe and South Africa before the end of the year. Pakistan will also play in a tri-series with New Zealand and South Africa leading up to the Champions Trophy, which will be held at home.

The PCB has yet to decide on a new white-ball captain. The next captain will need to collaborate with Gary Kirsten to improve both the roster and the team's mindset.

Babar Azam led the national cricket team to 26 victories out of 43 ODI matches and 48 wins in 85 T20Is during his two terms as captain.

Also read: AB de Villiers breaks silence on Babar Azam's resignation as Pakistan white-ball captain