In the wake of Pakistan’s poor show in the new white-ball tour of New Zealand, captain Mohammad Rizwan and veteran batter Babar Azam are said to be considering a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The issue at hand: to request an explanation over their exclusion from the T20I team and address Rizwan’s role as skipper.
Selection Controversy Sparks Tensions
Both Rizwan and Babar were left confused after the selectors’ decision to leave them out of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, said a senior PCB official, requesting anonymity. The team management had decided to test younger players in the hands of new captain Salman Agha, overlooking two of Pakistan’s most veteran campaigners in the process.
“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,” the sources close to the Pakistan captain told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net).
Internal Conflicts with Team Management
Close sources to the situation have disclosed increasing tensions between Rizwan and interim head coach Aaqib Javed. The issues reportedly arose from team selection, specifically the playing XI for the first two T20Is. Rizwan favored playing five specialist bowlers, but the coaching staff proceeded with only four frontline bowlers and had to bank on part-timers Salman Agha and Irfan Khan to fill the overs quota. The risk did not pay off, with both conceding a whopping 118 runs between them.
“Rizwan will seek more power in the selection of the playing eleven for the match, and there is a possibility that if not given full power, then he might resign from ODI captaincy,” the source said.
Changes at the Coaching Level on the Cards?
As Pakistan’s preparations for the T20 World Cup gather pace, the PCB is now actively seeking alternatives for a full-time head coach. According to reports, discussions have already been conducted with multiple foreign candidates as coaches, with a couple of former Pakistani cricketers also in contention to replace Aaqib Javed, who at present is acting in that capacity.
PSL and Beyond: Rizwan Eyes Clear Role
With the players now turning attention to the Pakistan Super League (PSL), running until May 18, Rizwan is still keen to get a clear picture of his role in the T20I team. Pakistan will be hosting Bangladesh for a five-match T20I series straight after the PSL finishes, and the wicketkeeper-batter is looking to get some clarity on his role both as a player and as captain prior to that.
Rizwan’s encounter with the PCB chief is likely to be decisive in shaping the future course of Pakistan’s white-ball leadership and team makeup.
