Mohammad Rizwan threatens to quit as Pakistan ODI captain

Dubai: The Pakistan One-Day International skipper Mohammed Rizwan, unhappy with his omission from the T20I side and lack of influence over team decisions, is now seeking answers. Rizwan is expected to meet Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi in the coming days, along with star batter Babar Azam, as both seek clarity on their roles and more control over white-ball selection.

Pakistan endured a dismal run recently, failing to win a single match in the Champions Trophy and then losing 4-1 in a T20I series and suffering a 3-0 sweep in the ODIs in New Zealand. The back-to-back failures have left the team’s leadership structure under the spotlight — and Rizwan increasingly frustrated.

A senior PCB official told Telecom Asia Sport on condition of anonymity that Rizwan was upset with the selectors’ decision to drop him and Babar Azam for the five-match T20I series in New Zealand. The board had opted to test younger players under the captaincy of Salman Agha, leaving two of Pakistan’s most experienced players out in the cold.

“Rizwan is due to meet the PCB chairman as soon as he gets an opportunity to seek clarity on his axing from the T20I side,” a source close to the captain confirmed.

Rizwan took over as Pakistan’s white-ball skipper in October last year. He was rested for the T20Is in Zimbabwe but led the team in South Africa. However, his authority appears to be under threat — not just from the selectors, but also within the dressing room.

Sources say Rizwan clashed with interim head coach Aaqib Javed over the playing XI in the opening two ODIs in New Zealand. Rizwan had reportedly pushed for five specialist bowlers, but the team instead fielded four, relying on part-timers Salman Agha and Irfan Khan to fill the remaining overs. The gamble backfired, with the duo conceding 118 runs combined.

“Rizwan will seek more power in the selection of the playing eleven,” the source added. “And if he’s not given that, there’s a real possibility he could step down from the ODI captaincy.”

Meanwhile, the PCB has begun sounding out foreign candidates to replace Aaqib Javed as head coach, with some former Pakistan players also in the running. The board is expected to finalise appointments once the Pakistan Super League concludes on May 18.

Pakistan’s next assignment is a five-match T20I series at home against Bangladesh. Rizwan will be hoping for clarity — not just on his future in the T20I set-up, but also on how much freedom he will have as white-ball captain going forward.