Things are far from ideal in the Pakistan cricket camp, especially for ODI skipper Mohammad Rizwan, whose leadership has come under intense scrutiny following the team’s disastrous tour of New Zealand.
After being whitewashed 3-0 in the ODI series, reports have surfaced pointing to internal discord between Rizwan and interim head coach Aaqib Javed. The alleged flashpoint? A disagreement over team selection.
Sources claim Rizwan was adamant about fielding five specialist bowlers in the opening two ODIs, but Javed opted for just four, supplementing the bowling attack with part-timers Salman Agha and Irfan Khan. The gamble backfired spectacularly, as the two conceded 134 runs in 13 overs, leaking runs at over 10 an over and proving costly in Pakistan’s defeats.
To make matters worse, both Rizwan and senior batter Babar Azam were dropped from the T20I series against New Zealand, a move that has sparked even more questions than answers.
According to a source close to the captain, Rizwan plans to meet the PCB Chairman to seek “clarity” on the rationale behind his exclusion and the current power dynamics surrounding team selections.
“Rizwan will seek more power in the selection of the playing eleven,” the source told Gulf News.
“And if he’s not given that, there’s a real possibility he could step down from the ODI captaincy.”
Such developments could have serious implications for Pakistan’s white-ball structure, especially with a packed international calendar ahead.
Pakistan’s recent form paints a grim picture. A 4-1 T20I series defeat and a 3-0 ODI whitewash in New Zealand followed their winless exit from the Champions Trophy, where they failed to register a single victory in the group stage.
As tensions rise behind closed doors, the future of Mohammad Rizwan as captain — and the cohesion within Pakistan’s setup — hangs in the balance.
