Mohammad Rizwan Appointed as Pakistan T20I Vice-Captain

In a recent development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named Mohammad Rizwan as the vice-captain of the Pakistan T20I side ahead of their upcoming five-match series against New Zealand. Rizwan's appointment comes as a replacement for Shadab Khan, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury that ruled him out of the New Zealand tour.

This decision is part of a series of changes implemented by the PCB in the Pakistan leadership group and board structure since Babar Azam stepped down as captain from all formats of the game after the conclusion of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Pakistan's underwhelming performance in the tournament, where they finished fifth on the table with only four wins in nine matches, led to the need for a reshuffle. As a result, the 31-year-old Rizwan will now serve as the deputy to Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been named the captain of the T20I side.

Rizwan brings valuable leadership experience to the team, having previously captained Pakistan in two Tests against New Zealand in late 2020 and early 2021 when Babar was sidelined due to a fractured right thumb. Additionally, he has been the captain of the Multan Sultans in the Pakistan T20 League since 2021. Under his leadership, the Sultans clinched the title in 2021 and reached the final in both 2022 and 2023. In total, Rizwan has led in 64 out of the 238 T20s he has been a part of throughout his career.

Expressing his gratitude, Rizwan said, "It is an honor to be named as the vice-captain of the Pakistan Men's T20I side. I am thankful to the PCB for entrusting me with this responsibility. I am looking forward to working closely with the captain, coaching staff, and my teammates to contribute to the team's success."

Rizwan boasts an impressive T20I record, amassing 2797 runs in 73 innings at an average of 49.07, including 25 half-centuries and one century. However, his strike rate of 127.30 has faced criticism in recent years. In addition to his batting prowess, Rizwan is also a reliable wicket-keeper, having taken 41 catches and effected 11 stumpings in T20Is.

Pakistan will be eager for a fresh start in the T20 format following their disappointing 3-0 Test series loss against Australia. The team is scheduled to play five T20Is against New Zealand, with the first match set to take place on January 12 in Auckland. Subsequently, they will travel to Hamilton, Dunedin, and Christchurch for the remaining games.

With the appointment of Mohammad Rizwan as the vice-captain, Pakistan aims to strengthen their leadership core and bounce back with renewed determination and success in the T20I series against New Zealand.