What Pakistan’s ODI team is experiencing now is nothing short of a nightmare. After losing the tri-series at home, they are struggling to make a mark in the ongoing Champions Trophy. Although nothing is confirmed yet, they are on the brink of elimination, as their fate is no longer in their hands following losses to New Zealand and India. Not only do they need to win their upcoming match, but they also have to rely on other teams in their group. Their clash against Bangladesh is set to be a thriller, while the outcomes of Bangladesh vs New Zealand and India vs New Zealand will play a crucial role in determining Pakistan’s fate in the tournament.
As for Mohammad Rizwan, he is under pressure as Pakistan’s cricket experts and fans are criticising him and expressing their frustration over the team’s poor performance.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has a history of making swift decisions when it comes to sacking players and coaches, with several high-profile names being removed in the past. If Rizwan is replaced as ODI captain after the Champions Trophy, it wouldn’t come as a shock. While there are no official reports confirming this yet, PCB’s history suggests that such a move is always a possibility.
So, if Mohammad Rizwan loses his captaincy, who are the strongest contenders to replace him? Let’s take a look at three quality names who could step up as Pakistan’s ODI captain.
Players who could replace Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain
Saud Shakeel
He is the vice-captain of Pakistan’s Test team and is slowly and steadily improving his game in ODIs as well. In the recent game against India, we saw how he tried his best to fight back after Pakistan lost two wickets in quick succession. He scored 62 runs but failed to capitalise on it.
Although there is no doubt that many believe he is an excellent batter with a sharp cricketing mind, capable of leading the team, he has not been fully tried and tested in that role. It will be interesting to see how things comes for him. However, if Mohammad Rizwan gets sacked, he could certainly enter the contention for the captaincy.
Fakhar Zaman
Currently, he is not part of the Champions Trophy squad due to an unfortunate injury. However, even in the past, when Babar Azam was on the verge of being sacked, Fakhar Zaman’s name also gained attention as a potential ODI captain for Pakistan. This was primarily due to his aggressive batting style, which can quickly change the course of a match. He demonstrated this ability multiple times in the 2023 ODI World Cup, particularly with his remarkable century against New Zealand in Bengaluru, which received massive attention as he led the team to victory.
Fakhar has often made scoring centuries look effortless, and his consistent presence in the Shaheens’ camp has likely given him a solid understanding of team leadership. If he makes a comeback after recovering from his injury, he could emerge as a strong contender to lead Pakistan in ODIs, especially if Mohammad Rizwan gets sacked or is not considered for the role in the future.
Imam ul haq
Last but certainly not least, can Imam-ul-Haq take on the captaincy? While he has struggled with inconsistency and has been dropped from the team multiple times, recent performances have shown greater maturity in his batting. However, his running between the wickets has been a concern, especially after his run-out against India in a Champions Trophy match. Although he may not be as strong a favourite as the names mentioned above, if things go in his favour and he performs well, his cricketing intelligence and tactical awareness could make him a viable candidate to lead the team.
