Pakistan captain Babar Azam is going through a rough patch after early exit of 2009 champions from T20 World Cup 2024. Babar is set to play under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan for Vancouver Knights in the upcoming edition of GT20 Canada.
"The Vancouver Knights have chosen their captain for GT20 Season 4: Sir Mohammad Rizwan. With his exceptional batting skills and sharp wicketkeeping, he's ready to lead us to victory. Get ready, Knights!" the G20 Canada franchise said in a statement.
Babar vs Rizwan PSL captaincy record
While Rizwan is yet to lead the national side, he has taken Multan Sultans to three finals in consecutive editions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Out of 48 teams as captain of the PSL franchise, he finished on the side in 32. On the other hand, Babar has struggled of late in both franchise and international cricket with back to back first round exit in World Cups. Under Babar's leadership, Peshawar Zalmi have won 11 and lost as many from 22 games.
The two other Pakistan players in Vancouver Knights’ squad are Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali. Other international stars in the team include Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamicchane, South Africa all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius. The T20 league will begin on July 25 and the final is scheduled to be played on August 11.
Vancouver Knights squad for GT20 Canada
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Mohammad Amir, Asif Ali, Michael Rippon, Dwaine Pretorius, Sandeep Lamichhane, Dipendra Singh Airee, Paul van Meekeren, Ruben Trumpelmann, Jeremy Gordon, Harsh Thaker, Rishiv Joshi, Sarmad Anwar, Shubham Sharma, Yuvraj Samra, Ajayveer Singh, Mandeep Girdhar
Babar’s statement on Pakistan captaincy
After the T20 World Cup exit, Babar had said that he will make the announcement to leave captaincy openly if he decides to do so.
"When I gave up the captaincy (in 2023), I thought that I shouldn't be doing it now, that's why I left it and I announced it myself.
"Then when they gave it back to me, it was the decision of the PCB. When I go back, we will discuss all that has happened here. And if I have to leave the captaincy, I will announce it openly. I will not hide behind anything. Whatever happens will happen in the open. But for now, I have not thought about it. It is eventually PCB's decision," said the 29-year-old.
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