Photo Credit: Twitter Profile Photo of @iMRizwanPak
Amid growing speculation about Babar Azam’s captaincy, Mohammad Rizwan has emerged as a strong candidate for the role.
On his YouTube channel, former cricketer Basit Ali praised Rizwan’s leadership during the Champions One-Day Cup, where he guided the Markhors to a commanding win over the Stallions.
Basit emphasized Rizwan’s exceptional ability to read pitch conditions, stating that this skill surpasses that of both Babar Azam and current Test captain Shan Masood.
“The way Rizwan led the side, he proved there is no better skipper than him,” said Basit.
“He read the pitch; it is a big thing. Even Babar can’t do that. If you don’t make him captain now, it’s a loss for Pakistan. This is the best time to give Rizwan the captaincy.”
Pakistan’s cricket team has faced challenges recently, with leadership concerns arising after underwhelming performances in the 2023 Asia Cup and World Cup tournaments.
Babar Azam, who was replaced by Shaheen Afridi following the ODI World Cup, has faced growing criticism. However, Shaheen’s captaincy stint was brief, and Shan Masood’s leadership in Test matches has also come under scrutiny following a home series loss to Bangladesh.
Despite the speculation, a source within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dismissed rumors of immediate captaincy changes, emphasizing the need for patience and allowing current captains time to establish themselves in their roles.
Babar is scheduled to officially resume his white-ball captaincy duties in November when Pakistan plays Australia in a series of ODIs and T20Is.
As leadership discussions continue, Basit Ali’s endorsement of Mohammad Rizwan has fueled the ongoing debate about Pakistan’s future direction. Fans and former cricketers remain divided on the idea of Rizwan replacing Babar as captain.
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