Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed as the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team.Agha Salman has been appointed as the vice-captain of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team
Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has been officially named the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team, with Salman Ali Agha stepping in as vice-captain. The announcement coincides with the selectors unveiling Pakistan’s squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I tours of Australia and Zimbabwe, set to take place from November 4 to December 5. Salman will lead the T20I team in Zimbabwe as Rizwan will be rested as part of a workload management strategy.
Rizwan, 32, made his white-ball cricket debut in 2015 and has since played 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is, amassing 5,401 runs, including four centuries, and achieving 143 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. He will become Pakistan’s 31st captain in the first ODI against Australia in Melbourne on November 4, and for the T20I in Brisbane on November 14, he will be the 12th captain in that format.
Mohammad Rizwan:
“I am incredibly honored to be appointed as the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball team. Representing Pakistan on the global stage is the highest privilege, and now leading such a talented and dynamic group of players is a tremendous honor. Joining the ranks of Pakistan’s legendary limited-overs captains is truly a remarkable achievement.
“I am committed to giving my absolute best in this role and look forward to working closely with the selectors, coaches, and my immensely talented teammates. Together, we aim to meet and exceed the expectations of our fans and supporters.
“Pakistan cricket has immense potential across all formats, and with the support of God Almighty, I am confident that we will build upon our recent successes against England to reach even greater heights in this challenging and busy white-ball season.”
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi:
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mohammad Rizwan on being named Pakistan’s white-ball captain. I am confident that his leadership qualities, driven by his deep dedication and passion for the game, will help transform this talented team into a consistently successful unit.
“Rizwan has earned the respect of his peers through his commitment and positive approach, and I believe these qualities, coupled with his knowledge of the game and performance, will inspire the next generation of Pakistan cricketers.
“The PCB has always been dedicated to supporting our players and staff, and we will continue to back Rizwan in this significant role. We are optimistic that under his leadership, Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team will once again become a formidable force on the international stage.”
Pakistan Announces 15-Member Squad for Australia and Zimbabwe Tours
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors have announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming tours of Australia and Zimbabwe. The national team is set to play three one-day internationals (ODIs) and three twenty20 internationals (T20Is) during these tours. The Australia series will take place from November 4 to 18, while the Zimbabwe matches will be held in Bulawayo from November 24 to December 5.
Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who were rested for the last two Test matches against England, have been recalled for the Australia series. However, they will be rested for the Zimbabwe tour. Similarly, Mohammad Rizwan will be available for the Australia matches and the Zimbabwe ODIs but will be rested for the T20Is in Zimbabwe.
This selection follows the selectors’ rotation policy and is aligned with the team’s long-term strategy, providing opportunities to domestic players in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy and beyond.
The ODI squad includes players such as Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Mohammad Irfan Khan, and Saim Ayub. Meanwhile, Jehandad Khan and Salman Ali Agha make their debut in the T20I squad. Kamran Ghulam, Umair Bin Yousuf, and Sufiyan Muqeem will make their debuts for the national team, having previously played in limited-overs international matches. Kamran replaced Haris Sohail in the ODI against New Zealand in January 2023, while Umair and Sufiyan made their T20I debuts during the Asian Games cricket competition against Hong Kong.
Also Read: Rizwan Set to Captain as Babar Azam Returns: Pakistan’s Probable Squads for Australia Tour
Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, who took 17 wickets in the Champions One Day Cup in Faisalabad, returns to the ODI team, having last represented Pakistan in January 2023 against New Zealand. Besides Babar, Naseem, Rizwan, Salman, and Shaheen, four other players—Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, and Mohammad Irfan Khan—have been selected for both the ODI and T20I squads.
Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Faisal Akram, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, and Saim Ayub are included in the ODI squad, while Jehandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Umair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Usman Khan will join the T20I squad for the shorter format.
Seven members of the ODI squad—Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi—will depart for Melbourne on Monday, October 28. The remaining ODI players will leave on Tuesday, October 29. Pakistan’s white-ball coach, Gary Kirsten, will join the squad in Melbourne on October 28.
ODI Squad:
Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
T20I Squad:
Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jehandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Umair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan.
For the Zimbabwe series, the squad primarily consists of domestic performers. In addition to Salman Ali Agha, other players selected for both formats include Ahmed Daniyal, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, and Tayyab Tahir. Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Faisal Akram, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, and Shahnawaz Dahani are part of the ODI team, while Arafat Minhas, Jehandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Umair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, and Usman Khan will play in the T20I format.
Haseebullah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Irfan Khan, and Salman Ali Agha are the four players who will be part of the squad from the start of the Australia tour until the end of the Zimbabwe tour.
ODI Squad for Zimbabwe:
Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir.
T20I Squad for Zimbabwe:
Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jehandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Umair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan.
Pakistan’s White Ball Schedule for Australia and Zimbabwe:
Australia Tour:
November 4: 1st ODI, MCG, Melbourne
November 8: 2nd ODI, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
November 11: 3rd ODI, Perth Stadium, Perth
November 14: 1st T20I, The Gabba, Brisbane
November 16: 2nd T20I, SCG, Sydney
November 18: 3rd T20I, Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Zimbabwe Tour:
November 24: 1st ODI, Bulawayo
November 26: 2nd ODI, Bulawayo
November 28: 3rd ODI, Bulawayo
December 1: 1st T20I, Bulawayo
December 3: 2nd T20I, Bulawayo
December 5: 3rd T20I, Bulawayo
