The Vancouver Knights, a franchise in the Global T20 Canada League, recently appointed Mohammad Rizwan as their new captain, replacing Babar Azam. This decision marks a significant shift in leadership for the team as they prepare for the upcoming fourth season of the tournament, scheduled to start on July 25, with the final set for August 11.
In their official announcement, the Vancouver Knights hailed Rizwan for his exceptional batting prowess and adept wicketkeeping skills, dubbing him ‘Sir Muhammad Rizwan’ in a nod to his esteemed position within the team. Rizwan, who was part of the Knights last season, will lead a squad that includes notable players like Mohammad Amir, Asif Ali, Michael Rippon from New Zealand, Dwaine Pretorius from South Africa, Ruben Trumpelmann from Namibia, and Jeremy Gordon from Guyana.
The GT20 Canada League promises an exciting competition with the participation of several international stars, including Mohammad Nabi, Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, David Wiese, Hazratullah Zazai, David Warner, and Carlos Brathwaite. The defending champions, the Montreal Tigers, clinched the title in 2023 after defeating the Vancouver Knights in the final, making this season a chance for redemption and glory for Rizwan and his team.
Seven Pakistani players, including Babar Azam, Asif Ali, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Nawaz, are set to showcase their skills in the tournament. These players were also part of Pakistan’s squad in the recently concluded 2024 T20 World Cup, where the team faced an early exit, adding extra motivation for them to perform well in the upcoming GT20 Canada season.