As per the sources, since the side is overly engaged in matches, it is likely that Pakistan will have different white-ball skippers for one-day internationals and T20 matches. The Pakistan Cricket Board was also said to have handed over the ODI captaincy to Babar Azam due to the upcoming white-ball matches. However, the stunning cricketer decided to quit around Wednesday midnight in order to concentrate on batting. Sources say it won’t be easy for the white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten or the selection committee to find a replacement for the captain for the shorter formats.
“White-ball captaincy is clearly understood to hang on to Muhammad Rizwan since he and Babar are the only two players who are certain to be included in the team for all three formats,” said a source.
“However, it is not that easy because, due to the team’s busy international schedule, the concern on Rizwan’s fitness is already a primary concern for red-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, himself and Kirsten and the PCB and selectors,” he continued.
Rizwan, Babar, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are players participating in all formats of the game, hence managing the load on these players will become a serious challenge.
Pakistan is looking forward to playing 18 ODIs and T20I in mid November to early December against Australia and Zimbabwe including South Africa, after which there will be a two-match Test series Also in South Africa.
After coming back home in January, the squad is going to participate in a couple of Tests with the West Indies, an ODI tri-series involving New Zealand and South Africa next, before the ICC Champions Trophy in February March.
Once the ICC event is over, the Pakistan side will travel to New Zealand once more for a white ball series, following which the Pakistan Super League will be arranged by the PCB.
“Babar’s reign as captain across the formats lasted for a little over 3 years but, Kirsten and the selectors have their doubts in regard to Rizwan’s maintaining the intensity for playing all the three formats as well as captaining in the coming months,” said another source.
He further explained that there was a possibility of PCB getting different captains for ODI and T20I or appointing a vigorous vice captain to Rizwan who will ensure that the keeper-batsman will have plenty of time off to control his workload.
“Then it would be the case where the team will be led by Rizwan’s deputy,” added the source.
“Other people being looked at for the position of Rizwan’s vice captain or to lead the T20I or ODI team include Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood and Shaheen,” he said.
The source revealed that Kirsten has already conveyed to PCB that after the loss of confidence and form by Babar, he felt that there isn’t any player that can stand up to the pressures of two formats of captaincy.
