'How is not Mohammad Rizwan a captain?' Pakistan fans unhappy with PCB for ignoring wicketkeeper

A sea of Pakistan fans was baffled that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) didn't consider wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan for captaincy after Babar Azam was reportedly forced into resignation after the ICC World Cup 2023 debacle.

Babar Azam stepped down as captain on Wednesday (November 15) after a meeting with PCB chief Zaka Ashraf on the day in Lahore. Shaheen Afridi was named the T20 captain while Shan Masood was named the Test skipper. Rizwan, who is also the Test vice-captain, was ignored, leaving fans questioning PCB's decision-making.

After stepping down as captain, Babar Azam wrote on X: "Today, I am stepping down as captain of Pakistan from all formats. It's a difficult decision but I feel this is right time for this call.".

Meanwhile Shan Masood said after his appointment: "I am extremely grateful to the cricket board, stakeholders who saw in me that I can take on this responsibility. There are challenges, and red ball cricket is the toughest format. The onus now is not just on the leader but on everyone to take Pakistan's red ball team forward, create an identity, prepare the kind of a blueprint that would excite our fans."

His first assignment will be a three-match Test series in Australia starting December 14. Shadab Khan, who is the vice-captain in the T20s, was also ignored for the captain's role while the all-rounder had a below-par ICC World Cup 2023. Mohammad Rizwan, on the other hand, finished as the top scorer for Pakistan with 395 runs before Pakistan made the exit in the league stages.

Former Test captain Mohammad Hafeez has been given the responsibility of Director - Pakistan Men's Cricket Team. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made the historic decision to fire the Director of Cricket Mickey Arthur as well as the whole coaching team. An official press release from the PCB states that head coach Grant Bradburn and batting coach Andrew Puttick have changed.