Mohammad Rizwan reluctantly accepted Pakistan captaincy, denied authority over team selection
Published - 29 Oct 2024, 07:09 PM | Updated - 29 Oct 2024, 11:42 PM
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Mohammad Rizwan has officially replaced Babar Azam as Pakistan's white-ball captain. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced this latest change in the leadership on October 28 after Babar Azam resigned as the captain to refocus on his personal performance.
However, Mohammad Rizwan’s role as the new white-ball captain of the Pakistan cricket team comes with a new twist, as the star wicketkeeper-batter will only lead the team on the field, but his influence in team selection will be limited to an advisory capacity only.
Mohammad Rizwan accepts advisory role in selection as Pakistan’s new white-ball captain
It is being said that Rizwan was initially hesitant to take up Pakistan’s captaincy in limited-overs cricket, but the star gloveman has accepted the fresh policy of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), where the final team selection decisions will be taken by only the selection committee.
Rizwan’s input on Pakistan’s ODI and T20I squad selections and playing XI will now be strictly advisory, with no voting rights, with the PCB easing the pressure on the captain. With a new selection process and leadership, all eyes are now on Rizwan to steer Pakistan’s ambitions forward.
Riwan agreed to the new system: PCB Source
A source was quoted as saying by PTI: “After discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, and senior selector, Aaqib Javed, Riwan agreed to the new system where his input in the selection process would be strictly advisory.”
Adding to the shift, the PCB has also confirmed that Gary Kirsten has resigned from his position as the white-ball coach, citing concerns over the advisory-only role in team selection. The source added, “Under the new policy, the selection committee is now responsible for selecting touring squads and the playing eleven.”
On the other hand, Pakistan’s Test coach Jason Gillespie will now guide the white-ball quads on their upcoming crucial tour of Australia, which will be Rizwan’s first assignment as the captain.
Read Also: 'Pakistan will beat Australia in Australia': Mohammad Rizwan's overconfident claim
Mohammad Rizwan eyes team unity as he set to lead Pakistan on crucial Australia tour
After becoming Pakistan's white-ball captain, Mohammad Rizwan stated: “One of my wishes is to see the Pakistan team in the same kind of atmosphere that we had a couple of years ago. We were all with each other at any stage, whether things were working for us or not. Because of that, a lot of things worked in our favor back then.”
Rizwan further noted, “The same things are present now also. But the difference is that we have more young talent along with seniors, and we wish that we all as a team gel together. It’s a bit difficult when the seniors are playing and when the young lot comes and takes time to understand things. I guess during the Australia series, we will regain the same momentum that we had earlier.”
Notably, Pakistan recently won the Test series 2-1 at home against England and they will next face Australia in the first ODI on November 4. They will also play three T20Is on the Australia tour.
