In a highly anticipated showdown, Mohammad Rizwan is set to debut as Pakistan’s T20I captain in the first T20I match against Australia, becoming the 12th player to lead Pakistan in this format. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM PST today November 14, 2024, with the toss expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
Rizwan steps into the captaincy following Pakistan’s morale-boosting ODI series win over Australia last week, marking Pakistan’s first ODI series victory over Australia in years. The current T20I series, set across Brisbane, Sydney, and Hobart, will unfold on November 14, 16, and 18, respectively, as Pakistan looks to extend its winning streak on Australian soil.
Pakistan’s T20I squad was strengthened on November 11 with the arrival of six additional players who joined the team in Brisbane after an intensive training camp in Karachi. The new arrivals – Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufiyan Moqim, and Usman Khan – are expected to bring fresh energy and depth to the team as they aim to maintain momentum in the series.
This marks the first bilateral T20I series between Pakistan and Australia since their encounter in March 2022, when Australia claimed victory in a one-off match in Lahore. The last T20I series between the two teams in Australia, held in November 2019, ended 2-0 in favor of the hosts, with one match yielding no result. Building on the recent ODI success, Pakistan hopes to put up a stronger challenge this time around.
Australia, captained by wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, enters the series with a fresh T20I leadership. Inglis is supported by prominent teammates including Tim David and Nathan Ellis, while Josh Philippe joins the squad as a replacement for the injured Cooper Connolly.
Ahead of the match, Rizwan spoke with confidence about his team’s readiness, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of international cricket. “The ODI series win has boosted our confidence, but we recognize that each game is a new challenge,” he remarked. “We’ve assigned defined roles to each player and look forward to executing our strategy, not only in this series but also as we prepare for our upcoming matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa.”
Rizwan emphasized fostering a positive team atmosphere, particularly as the conditions so far have favored bowlers. “My aim is to keep the team engaged and optimistic. Although the conditions have supported bowlers, we are determined to showcase our batting prowess. I anticipate an exciting battle in these three matches,” Rizwan added.
The first T20I will commence at Brisbane Cricket Ground at 6 p.m. local time. Fans eagerly await this encounter, as Rizwan’s Pakistan hopes to sustain their winning form and establish a strong foundation for the remainder of the series.
Pakistan T20I Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan.
