After Babar Azam left the White-ball squad after 10 months, the PCB recommended the selection committee find a suitable replacement, and the selection committee has set Mohammad Rizwan as the new captain. The apex body of Pakistan cricket will declare soon, with an upcoming visit through Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa as a main priority.
Rizwan is the preferred competitor because of his record in domestic cricket and the Pakistan Super League. Rizwan has effectively driven groups in both domestic cricket and the Pakistan Super League (PSL), making him a favored choice among selectors and coaches the same. As per a reliable PCB source, “Rizwan’s seniority, reliability as a player, and experience of driving groups well in domestic cricket and PSL make him the leader for the captaincy.”
In the past few days, the PCB selectors have met with Director Mohsin Naqvi and white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten to settle the leadership decision. A choice is declared soon, with the white-ball crew set to be reported by Sunday ahead of their flight to Australia.
The PCB has allowed selectors the position to choose the captain, and they have proactively addressed Rizwan about his ability to take on the job. Key figures in Pakistani cricket, including Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, and Aleem Dar, have supposedly been engaged in these conversations, featuring the importance of this choice.
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The third Test is set to start on October 24, and PCB authorities accept that a spin-friendly pitch represents a huge challenge to the English batting setup, which battled against quality spin bowling in the second Test. While Rawalpindi has generally been known for its quick bowler-friendly pitches, the PCB is determined to change this account and take advantage of the home benefit to its fullest potential.
In another important development, PCB executive Mohsin Naqvi has assigned full authority to the five-member selection committee to choose the playing XI for the third Test. While the selectors will probably talk with the skipper and head coach, an official decision will rest exclusively with the board of trustees.