Mohammad Rizwan's captaincy candidature challenged by Gary Kirsten; Pakistan Cricket in a new mess

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is currently considering candidates for the white-ball captaincy following Babar Azam's resignation. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has emerged as an obvious choice, but white-ball coach Gary Kirsten and the selectors raised concerns about workload management.

Babar Azam, who has been struggling with his performance, stepped down from his role as Pakistan's white-ball captain. The 29-year-old batter said that he wanted to focus on his game after his resignation. Babar highlighted that this would help him to focus more energy on improving his batting skills.

Mohammad Rizwan Is The Obvious Choice - Report

The Pakistan Cricket Board accepted Babar Azam's resignation as captain. The PCB confirmed the national selection committee has been tasked with beginning the process of formulating future white-ball cricket strategies, including finding a new captain.

The PCB's white-ball selection committee, including Gary Kirsten and Asad Shafiq, will appoint a new captain for the shorter formats. According to the PTI news agency, Mohammad Rizwan is the obvious choice for the white-ball captaincy of the Pakistan team.

However, Kirsten or the selection committee has concerns about Mohammad Rizwan's workload due to his consistent selection across all formats amid a busy international schedule. The report added that the team's busy schedule raises questions about Rizwan's ability to manage the additional responsibilities.

“Mohammad Rizwan is the obvious choice for the white-ball captaincy given that, along with Babar, he is the only player who is an automatic selection in all formats of the game,” news agency PTI quoted an insider as claiming.

“But things are not so simple because, with the hectic international calendar of the team, the workload on Rizwan is a worrying factor for red-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, Kirsten, the PCB, and the selectors,” the source added.

Pakistan will play 18 ODIs and T20Is against Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa from November to December. They will then play a two-match Test series in South Africa.

Pakistan will face the West Indies in the home Test series before the white-ball ODI series involving New Zealand and South Africa in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy.

Reservations Over Whether Rizwan Would Be Able To Handle The Workload - Report

There is speculation that the Pakistan Cricket Board might consider appointing separate captains for ODIs and T20Is or appointing a strong vice-captain to support Rizwan, which allows him to take breaks as needed.

"Babar was captain in all three formats for more than three years but Kirsten and the selectors have their reservations over whether Rizwan would be able to handle the workload in the coming months of not only playing all the formats but also leading the side in ODIs and T20Is," said another source.

"In which case, Rizwan's deputy will lead the team. Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, and Shaheen are the other candidates under consideration for either the role of Rizwan's deputy or leading the T20I or ODI side," he said.

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