In a surprising turn of events, Pakistan’s premier batsman and current white-ball captain, Babar Azam, will play under the leadership of wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan in the upcoming GT20 Canada 2024. Rizwan, who has previously led the Multan Sultans to their Pakistan Super League (PSL) triumph in 2021, has been appointed as the captain of the Vancouver Knights for the fourth season of the league, which is set to take place from July 25 to August 11.
Announcing Rizwan’s captaincy, the Vancouver Knights released a statement: “Sir Muhammad Rizwan, with his powerful batting and keen wicketkeeping skills, is set to lead us to victory. Get ready for battle, Knights!”
The GT20 Canada will see a total of seven Pakistani players participating. The Vancouver Knights, the inaugural champions of the league, have secured the services of four Pakistani players: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, and Asif Ali. Meanwhile, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz will play for the Toronto Nationals, and Iftikhar Ahmed will represent the Bangla Tigers Mississauga.
The six-team tournament will be held at the TD Cricket Arena in Brampton. The league, which began in 2018, had its second season in 2019. However, the third edition scheduled for 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The GT20 Canada made a comeback in 2023, with the Montreal Tigers emerging victorious against the Surrey Jaguars in the final.
The Vancouver Knights’ squad for the GT20 2024 includes: Babar Azam, Asif Ali, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Jeremy Gordon, Rishiv Joshi, Sandeep Lamichhane, Dwaine Pretorius, Michael Rippon, Dipendra Singh Airee, Harsh Thaker, Ruben Trumpelmann, Paul van Meekeren, Sarmad Anwar, Mandeep Girdhar, Yuvraj Samra, Shubham Sharma, and Ajayveer Singh.
Fans eagerly await the fourth edition of the GT20 Canada, as the tournament promises to showcase thrilling cricket action and high-caliber performances from some of the best players around the globe.
