Pakistan has sacked Mohammad Rizwan as T20I captain, appointing Salman Ali Agha as his replacement for the New Zealand tour. Rizwan retains the ODI captaincy. The PCB’s decision aims to strengthen the team ahead of major tournaments, with several uncapped players included in the squad while addressing injuries.
Pakistan has made a significant change in their T20I leadership by dismissing Mohammad Rizwan as captain, a position he had held since October of the previous year. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced this decision via X on March 4. Salman Ali Agha, who served as Rizwan’s deputy, has been appointed as the new captain for the upcoming five-match T20I series in New Zealand, with Shadab Khan as his vice-captain.
Although Rizwan has stepped down from the T20I captaincy, he will remain in charge of the ODI team as they prepare for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The PCB stated that the change aims to structure the team towards upcoming tournaments, specifically the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Salman previously led the national side against Zimbabwe, securing a 2-1 victory in that series.
Additionally, Rizwan’s removal from the T20I squad coincides with the exclusion of Babar Azam. The new T20I squad for the New Zealand series features three uncapped players, while two new players are included in the ODI squad. Openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub will not participate due to injuries. Aqib Javed will continue as interim head coach during this transition as the PCB seeks a permanent replacement.
In summary, the Pakistan Cricket Board has opted to replace Mohammad Rizwan with Salman Ali Agha as the T20I captain, reflecting a strategic shift aimed at the future of the team. Rizwan will still lead in ODIs, and the squad for the New Zealand trip features several new faces. This leadership change underscores Pakistan’s intent to build a competitive team for upcoming international tournaments.
Original Source: www.news18.com
