Rizwan and Salman set to get white-ball responsibilities

ISLAMABAD: In a pivotal development for Pakistan cricket, Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman are expected to take on primary responsibilities in white-ball cricket as part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) revamped strategy.

Chairman Mohsin Naqvi convened a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss the future of Pakistan’s limited-overs teams, aligning with plans leading up to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

As previously reported by The News on October 3, Rizwan and Salman are the frontrunners for these roles, with Rizwan likely to be named the new ODI captain and Salman supported for the T20 captaincy. A proposal is also under consideration to have Salman serve as Rizwan’s deputy in both formats for upcoming series, providing a balanced leadership approach.

The meeting, held at a prominent hotel in Islamabad, saw participation from the PCB selection committee, Rizwan and Agha Salman, underscoring the significance of the discussions. A major decision point involves Babar Azam, with suggestions leaning toward relieving him from T20 International duties, allowing him to focus on Tests and ODIs. With the T20 World Cup two years away, the emphasis is on nurturing fresh talent to build a formidable team for the future.

Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to have a private discussion with Babar to outline his role in Pakistan’s Test and ODI frameworks moving forward. A formal announcement of the ODI and T20 captains, along with team selections for the upcoming series in Australia, is to be made during Naqvi’s scheduled press conference on Sunday. The Pakistan squad is set to depart for Australia on October 29 to participate in the highly anticipated ODI and T20 series.