Fresh off a challenging Test series against a dominant Australian outfit that culminated in a 3-0 defeat, the Pakistan cricket team is gearing up for their next international challenge — a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, commencing on January 12. This series marks a new beginning for the team with quick bowler Shaheen Afridi taking on the mantle of T20I captaincy, and Mohammad Rizwan supporting him as the newly appointed vice-captain.
In a shake-up of leadership following the squad’s disappointing run at the previous ODI World Cup, Babar Azam stepped back from his captaincy role in all formats. Lahore Qalandars’ triumph in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) under Shaheen’s captainship, however, caught the attention of selectors, earning him the prestigious position at the helm of the national side. With his sights set on potentially commanding the team in the upcoming T20 World Cup, Afridi’s immediate focus will be to steer his side through the challenges posed by the New Zealand tour, with Rizwan as his deputy.
Mohammad Rizwan, a wicketkeeper-batter, has been a consistent performer for Pakistan, featuring in 85 T2OIs and accumulating an impressive 2,797 runs, including one century and 25 fifties. Despite facing criticism for his strike-rate while opening alongside Babar, Rizwan is likely to continue at the top of the order. The vice-captain appointment elicited a grateful response from him. “It is an honour to be named as the vice-captain of Pakistan Men’s T20I side. I am thankful to the PCB for entrusting me with this responsibility. I am looking forward to working closely with the captain, coaching staff, and my teammates to contribute to the team’s success,” expressed Rizwan.
The team flying out to New Zealand constitutes a mix of experienced campaigners and budding talents. The complete squad is as follows: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain and wicket-keeper), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan.
The series schedule confirms the squad will showcase their talent across various venues in New Zealand. The itinerary includes the series opener on January 12 at the historic Eden Park in Auckland, followed by matches at Seddon Park in Hamilton, the University Oval in Dunedin, and concluding with back-to-back games at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
This tour is not only crucial as a test of a new leadership dynamics but also as preparation for the high-stakes T20 World Cup later in the year. It gives the management a chance to fine-tune strategies and players to cement their roles within the team. As excitement for the bilateral encounter brews both in Pakistan and New Zealand, fans eagerly await to see if the change in leadership breathes new life into the Pakistan T20I side and how Afridi and Rizwan, the new captain and his deputy, will carve their legacy on the cricketing field.
