Shadab Khan's future as vice captain hangs in balance

Sources say decision to replace Shadab Khan as vice captain role could be taken before upcoming home T20I series

By Sports Desk

Published April 02, 2023

Pakistan´s Shadab Khan prepares to bowl during the ICC men´s Twenty20 World Cup 2022 semi-final cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on November 9, 2022. — AFP

KARACHI: All-rounder Shadab Khan's future as the vice-captain hangs in balance as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is mulling to remove him from the post in white-ball cricket.

The 24-year-old cricketer had been appointed vice-captain in 2020 and recently led the Men in Green in the T20Is against Afghanistan. Pakistan lost the series by 2-1 to the neighbours in Sharjah last week.

Sources said the decision to bring someone new in the vice captain's role could be taken before the upcoming limited-overs series between Pakistan and New Zealand. They said that leg-spinner Usama Mir could replace Shadab Khan in the Pakistan squad for the home series against Kiwis.

It must be noted that the schedule for the series between Pakistan and New Zealand was recently revised due to elections in Punjab.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board and New Zealand Cricket have unanimously agreed to make tweaks to the New Zealand men's cricket team's tour of Pakistan for five ODIs and five T20Is,” the PCB stated in a press release on March 20.

“The side will now arrive in Lahore and will play three T20Is from 14-17 April, before traveling to Rawalpindi where the final two T20Is and first ODI will be played from 20-26 April. The tour will culminate in Karachi with the remaining four ODIs to be played from 30 April to 7 May.

“This is an additional tour by the New Zealand cricket team and the matches will count towards ICC Team Rankings. The ODIs will help Pakistan to prepare their side for the ACC Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, while the T20I will assist the PCB to continue with their rebuilding of the side for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in the USA and West Indies in June/July 2024.”