Will Mohammad Rizwan replace Babar Azam as Pakistan's white-ball captain?
What's the story
Former Pakistan cricketer, Basit Ali, has suggested that Mohammad Rizwan should replace Babar Azam as the new white-ball skipper.
This proposal comes amid speculation about the potential end of Babar's captaincy tenure.
Recent reports have identified Rizwan as a leading contender for this role, sparking varied responses from fans and ex-Pakistan cricketers alike.
Pakistan crashed out of the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup group stage under Azam.
Leadership endorsement
Ali praises Rizwan's captaincy skills
Ali has expressed his support for Rizwan's leadership after observing him lead the Markhors against the Stallions in the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup.
He talked about Rizwan's ability to understand pitch conditions, a skill he believes is lacking in Babar and Test captain Shan Masood.
"The way Rizwan led the side, he proved there is no better skipper than him," Ali stated on his YouTube channel.
Game strategy
Strategic decisions in Champions One-Day Cup
In a match where the Stallions were set a target of 231, Rizwan's strategic decisions came to the fore.
He entrusted Shahnawaz Dahani with bowling the eighth over, which resulted in Babar hitting five consecutive fours off Dahani.
However, Rizwan did not allow Dahani to bowl thereafter and instead rotated between spinners and pacers to seek a breakthrough.
Match outcome
Rizwan's leadership leads to Markhors's victory
Rizwan's leadership strategies paid off when Naseem Shah dismissed Masood, leading to a collapse of the Stallions at 105 in 23.4 overs.
Spinners Zahid Mahmood and Salman Ali Agha dominated the Stallions's batters, securing an impressive 126-run win for the Markhors.
This victory further solidified Ali's endorsement of Rizwan as a potential captain for Pakistan's cricket team.