Rizwan appointed Pakistan's vice-captain of T20 team ahead of New Zealand tour

Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed as Pakistan's vice-captain in T20Is ahead of the five-game tour of New Zealand starting from Jan.12.

Rizwan will now work in tandem with new captain Shaheen Shah Afridi in the leadership group of the T20I team as Pakistan, the 2009 Men’s T20 World Cup winners, now build up their preparation for the 2024 edition of the tournament, happening in West Indies and US from June 1-29.

"It is an honour to be named as the vice-captain of Pakistan Men’s T20I side. I am thankful to the PCB for entrusting me with this responsibility. I am looking forward to working closely with the captain, coaching staff, and my teammates to contribute to the team's success,” said Rizwan in a statement issued by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Rizwan, 31, has featured in 85 T20Is since his debut in the format in 2015, amassing 2,797 runs, including one century and 25 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, Rizwan has taken 41 catches and 11 stumpings.

Bradburn steps down as coach

In a separate development, Grant Bradburn was on Monday stepped down from his role as Pakistan's high-performance coach ahead of T20I series against New Zealand, concluding a chapter that spanned multiple positions within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Bradburn, who took on the role of head coach in May 2023 after a successful consultancy, had previously served as Pakistan's fielding coach from 2018 to 2020 and contributed to the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

The reshuffling of coaching positions followed Pakistan's early exit from the 2023 World Cup, leading to Bradburn's relocation to the NCA. Announcing his departure on X, Bradburn expressed gratitude for the enriching experience and acknowledged the achievements made during his five-year tenure in various capacities.

"Time to close the amazing chapter that has been Pakistan cricket. After three roles over five years, I am proud of what’s been achieved and grateful to have worked with so many outstanding players, coaches, and staff. Wishing the teams, staff and everyone at Pakistan Cricket continued success and growth," he said.

As Bradburn turns the page on his Pakistan cricket journey, a report in The Telegraph suggest he is poised to take on a new challenge as the all-format head coach for Glamorgan.

His appointment came ahead of other highly-regarded county assistant coaches, showcasing the recognition of his coaching prowess. The coaching transition comes at a time when Pakistan faced a tough Test series in Australia, losing 0-3 and extending their winless streak on Australian soil since 1995. The upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand will mark a significant moment as Shaheen Afridi steps into the role of T20I captain for the first time. Agencies

Pakistan squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain and wicket-keeper), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan

Series schedule: 1st T20I – Jan.12, Eden Park, Auckland 2nd T20I – Jan.14, Seddon Park, Hamilton 3rd T20I – Jan.17, University Oval, Dunedin 4th T20I – Jan.19, Hagley Oval, Christchurch 5th T20I – Jan.21, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Agencies