PAK vs NZ: Mohammad Rizwan Named Vice Captain Of Pakistan T20 Team Ahead Of New Zealand Tour

In a recent development, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has been named the vice-captain of the Pakistan team in the T20I format. Mohammad Rizwan will assume the role of deputy to Shaheen Afridi in the upcoming five-match series in New Zealand.

The Shaheen Afridi-led team will commence their preparations for upcoming the 2024 T20 World Cup with a series against New Zealand. The first T20I match is scheduled to be played in Auckland on January 12, and the final match is scheduled for January 21.

Mohammad Rizwan Has Been Appointed Vice Captain – PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on their official social media X (formerly known as Twitter) that Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed as the vice-captain for the national team in the shorter format.

.@iMRizwanPak has been appointed vice-captain of Pakistan’s T20I team ? pic.twitter.com/0Zu6DcstML

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 8, 2024

Mohammad Rizwan Impressed With Bat During Test Series vs Australia

Mohammad Rizwan was last seen in action during the three-match Test series against Australia. The team led by Shan Masood failed to secure a single victory in the recently concluded series. The Men in Green suffered a 0-3 whitewash in the Test series on Australian soil.

The Pakistani team management chose Sarfaraz Ahmed as the wicketkeeper-batter over Rizwan in the first Test against Australia in Perth. However, Sarfaraz Ahmed failed to make an impact, registering scores of 3 and 4 in the humiliating 360-run defeat in the first game.

Rizwan took over as the wicketkeeper batter in the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne. Despite Pakistan’s 79-run loss in the game, Rizwan performed admirably with the bat, posting scores of 42 and 35 in the first and second innings, respectively.

He continued his impressive performance with a notable 88-run kock in the first innings of the final Test. Despite missing the first Test, Rizwan emerged as the top run scorer for Pakistan in the series, scoring 193 runs in four innings at an impressive average of 48.25.

Pakistan Players Reach New Zealand On Monday, January 8

Pakistan T20I captain Shaheen arrived in Auckland on Monday with members including Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Rizwan, Aamer Jamal, and Mohammad Wasim Jr. The Men in Green are scheduled to commence their training sessions for the series starting tomorrow.

January 12 – 1st T20I Pakistan vs New Zealand – Eden Park, Auckland

January 14 – 2nd T20I Pakistan vs New Zealand – Seddon Park, Hamilton

January 17 – 3rd T20I Pakistan vs New Zealand – University Oval, Dunedin

January 19 – 4th T20I Pakistan vs New Zealand – Hagley Oval, Christchurch

January 21- 5th T20I Pakistan vs New Zealand – Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Pakistan T20I Squad: Shaheen Afridi (c), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan.

Also read: AUS vs PAK: Watch – Mohammad Rizwan Declines To Shake Hands With Women Of Glenn McGrath’s Family