Pakistan vs New Zealand: PCB Undecided On Vice-Captain For White-Ball Team; Mohammad Rizwan Could Be Considered

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Pakistan vs New Zealand: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finds itself in a quandary regarding the appointment of a vice-captain for the white-ball team, despite Babar Azam's reinstatement as captain ahead of the New Zealand series at home.

While Babar Azam is all set to lead the team into the T20 World Cup in June, Wahab Riaz, a member of the selection committee and senior team manager, emphasised the ongoing discussions concerning the vice-captaincy role, aiming to ensure strong support for Azam's leadership.

"Babar Azam is the white ball captain. As far as the vice-captain is concerned, discussions are still continuing," said Wahab Riaz while addressing media. "We want somebody to stand by Babar. We will look into everything that is beneficial for the betterment of the team and make announcements later."

As per Cricket Pakistan, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is the front-runner in the race to be named the vice captain. Rizwan, whose captaincy impressed during the Pakistan Super League while leading Multan Sultans, was also the vice-captain during the Pakistan tour of New Zealand earlier this year.

While former captain Shaheen Afridi could be an obvious choice, reports of discord between him and Azam over the captaincy expectedly takes the pacer out of the equation. Rizwan, on the other hand, share good rapport with Rizwan and the duo has been a successful opening pair in the white-ball format.

Meanwhile, responding to speculation about discord within the national squad, Riaz dismissed such notions, highlighting Azam's experience and outstanding individual performance. Nevertheless, reports of unrest emerged following Shaheen Afridi's removal from captaincy after a solitary series stint, exacerbated by a subsequent PCB misstep in attributing statements to Afridi that he had not made.

Afridi's discontent was compounded by the lack of communication from PCB regarding the decision to replace him with Azam merely two months before the Men's T20 World Cup. Rumours suggest Afridi's dissatisfaction stemmed from the handling of his captaincy and were fueled further by a cryptic Instagram post hinting at his frustration with PCB's decisions.

Explaining the rationale behind Azam's captaincy reinstatement, Riaz underscored the desire to preserve Shaheen Shah Afridi's pivotal role as the team's premier bowler and Pakistan's cricketing figurehead. Riaz stressed the importance of keeping Afridi mentally unburdened and primed for forthcoming major tournaments, ensuring his readiness to deliver top-tier performances.

Dismissing claims of discord, Riaz reaffirmed the unity among players, emphasising their collective commitment to representing Pakistan. Despite the challenges posed by recent developments, PCB remains focused on fostering cohesion within the team and making strategic decisions aimed at bolstering Pakistan's cricketing prospects on the global stage.