Meet the Surprise Replacement for Babar Azam as Pakistan’s White Ball Skipper: Not Shaheen Afridi, but a 32-year-old Player

New Delhi: Pakistan is gearing up to announce a new captain for their white-ball cricket team as they prepare to face Australia in the upcoming series. This decision comes after Babar Azam stepped down as ODI captain following Pakistan's underwhelming performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India. Though Babar has resumed his role as the T20I captain, the position of ODI captain is currently empty.

According to Geo News, Mohammad Rizwan is set to become the new captain of Pakistan’s white-ball teams, ending speculation about the leadership role following Babar Azam’s resignation. While many anticipated Shaheen Afridi as a potential candidate, the board has reportedly chosen Rizwan to lead the team in both ODI and T20 formats.

Shaheen Afridi initially replaced Babar Azam as T20I captain but was removed from the role after leading for just one series. Babar then returned to the leadership group, captaining Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, despite the change, Pakistan’s campaign ended disappointingly, with the Men in Green exiting during the league stage.

Pakistan have not played an ODI since November 2023, and though selectors named an ODI captain earlier, the position remained in question following Babar Azam’s resignation. According to reports, Gary Kirsten recommended Mohammad Rizwan for the captaincy, a suggestion that received the selectors’ backing.

Pakistan is set to tour Australia for a limited-overs series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. The ODI matches are scheduled for November 4, 8, and 10, followed by the T20Is on November 14, 16, and 18. The visitors will aim to extend their strong form abroad in this highly anticipated series.

Pakistan bounced back from a lackluster home performance to secure a commanding 152-run victory over England. Although England started the series with a win, momentum has since shifted in Pakistan’s favor, leaving the visitors struggling to regain control.

Pakistan’s Test team might undergo adjustments as selectors consider retaining players from the previous squad for the upcoming series. Pakistan is set to return to red-ball cricket against South Africa in December 2024. However, it remains uncertain whether Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi will be included in the Test squad.