What seemed like an obvious choice for Babar Azam to lead the Vancouver Knights in the Global T20 Canada 2024 took an unexpected turn. The franchise officially announced that Mohammad Rizwan, the wicketkeeper-batter and Babar's teammate on the national team, will captain the side in the fourth edition of the league.
Although Rizwan has not captained Pakistan in white-ball cricket, he found success with the Multan Sultans in the 2021 Pakistan Super League, guiding them to three consecutive finals in subsequent editions. In comparison, Babar, who currently captains the national team and leads Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, has faced recent challenges, possibly influencing the franchise's decision to appoint Rizwan as skipper.
During Rizwan's first season with the Knights in 2023, the 32-year-old finished fourth among the top run-scorers, amassing 190 runs in five innings. Alongside Babar and Rizwan, the Knights' lineup includes fellow Pakistani players, veteran fast bowler Mohammad Amir, and middle-order batter Asif Ali. The squad also boasts international stars like Dwaine Pretorius, Sandeep Lamichhane, Dipendra Singh Airee, Paul van Meekeren, and Ruben Trumpelmann.
Earlier this year, Babar resumed his role as Pakistan's white-ball captain but experienced limited success. During the T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan did not advance beyond the group stage, failing to reach the Super Eights.