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On Sunday, December 22, Pakistan showcased a dominant performance, defeating South Africa by 36 runs in the third ODI to clinch a historic 3-0 series whitewash. The victory underlines Pakistan’s stellar form in ODIs, having previously secured a series win against Australia before their tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe.
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Rizwan Joins Elite List of Captains
The win adds a significant milestone to skipper Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy journey, as he becomes only the fourth Asian captain to whitewash a SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) team in their own backyard. Rizwan now joins an elite club featuring cricketing legends:
- Mahela Jayawardene (v England, 2006 ODIs)
- MS Dhoni (v Australia, 2016 T20Is)
- Virat Kohli (v New Zealand, 2020 T20Is)
- Mohammad Rizwan (v South Africa, 2024 ODIs)
This achievement cements Rizwan’s place among some of the greatest leaders in Asian cricket history.
Rizwan’s Promising Start as Captain
After Babar Azam stepped down from white-ball captaincy, Mohammad Rizwan took on the leadership role with a point to prove. While his tenure began with a defeat against Australia in his first ODI as captain, Rizwan quickly bounced back to lead Pakistan to a 2-1 series win against the Aussies.
His journey as a skipper in ODIs has been nothing short of remarkable:
- 6 matches as ODI captain
- 5 wins, including the 3-0 sweep of South Africa
Although Pakistan faced a setback in the T20Is, Rizwan’s leadership in the ODI series has drawn praise from fans and critics alike.
The Road Ahead for Pakistan
Pakistan’s next assignment is a two-match Test series against South Africa. However, Shan Masood will lead the Test side, giving Rizwan a brief respite from leadership duties.
Looking ahead, Rizwan’s successful captaincy spells optimism for Pakistan as they gear up for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. His calm demeanor, strategic acumen, and ability to rally his team have instilled confidence in Pakistan’s chances in the global tournament.
