NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has suggested appointing Mohammad Rizwan as the new captain of Pakistan's Test team, asserting that his leadership could lead to a victory against England in the upcoming home Test series.
Ali’s statement follows Pakistan's recent struggles under current Test skipper Shan Masood, who took on the role after Babar Azam stepped down post the group-stage exit at the 2023 ODI World Cup. Masood’s tenure has seen Pakistan lose all five matches, including a 2-0 home series defeat to Bangladesh.
"Pakistan will win the Test series against England if Mohammad Rizwan is made the captain," Basit Ali said on his YouTube channel. "You will see a different Babar Azam in the England series, but the condition is that the captain should be Rizwan."
Pakistan team has faced widespread criticism due to their poor performances and currently sits at 8th in the World Test Championship standings with just 16 points and a winning percentage of 19.05. This position jeopardizes their chances of qualifying for the final.
The three-match Test series against England is crucial, and Ali believes Rizwan's leadership could help.
Basit Ali emphasized that appointing Rizwan as captain might also help Babar Azam regain his form, which has dipped since he relinquished the captaincy. Rizwan, known for his dependability as a wicketkeeper-batter, has been a significant player for Pakistan across formats.
