Shahid Afridi: “Rizwan is the [best] of all the choices. I have greatly [supported] Rizwan as the captain”
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Legendary Pakistan six-hitter Shahid Afridi believes Mohammad Rizwan is the best choice as captain and he has greatly supported the wicketkeeper-batsman when it comes to the leadership role.
Rizwan had been captaining Pakistan in limited overs cricket, but has been stripped of the T20I captaincy ahead of the team’s tour of New Zealand.
Recently, the men in green took on New Zealand and South Africa in an ODI tri-series, where there they reached the final before losing to the Black Caps.
Following this, Pakistan took part in the 2025 Champions Trophy, but crashed out in the group stage after being defeated by New Zealand and India.
Their final match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
“Rizwan is the [best] of all the choices. I have greatly [supported] Rizwan as the captain,” Afridi said on Samaa TV programme Nadeem Malik Live.
Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand will comprise five T20Is and three ODIs, which will be held from March 16 to April 5.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir