Renowned fast bowler Wasim Akram has stated that the forthcoming ODI series against Australia presents a significant challenge for the Pakistan cricket team under the newly appointed white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan.

The wicket-keeper batsman succeeded Babar Azam as Pakistan’s white-ball captain following Azam’s resignation from the position earlier this month, in an effort to concentrate more on his playing responsibilities.

Mohammad Rizwan will commence his captaincy with the three-match ODI series against Australia, beginning on November 4.

Rizwan, who commenced his white-ball cricket career in 2015, has participated in 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is, accumulating 5,401 runs, including four hundreds, and has had 143 dismissals as a wicketkeeper.

Rizwan will assume the role of Pakistan’s 31st captain as he leads the side in the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne on 4 November. He will be the 12th individual to captain Pakistan in the T20I format during the inaugural match in Brisbane on 14 November.

During an online press conference from Melbourne, Wasim Akram emphasized Rizwan’s potential as captain, referencing his leadership experience.

Rizwan is a seasoned campaigner. According to Akram, he has captained throughout his life, guiding the Multan Sultans in the PSL to one championship and two finals. “In terms of leadership, he is an experienced strategist.”

Nevertheless, the former skipper underscored the difficulty of competing against Australia in their home environment, especially in ODI cricket.

“This is his inaugural tour as captain, and it is a challenging one.” Defeating Australia on their own soil, particularly in ODI cricket, is a formidable challenge,” he remarked.

“In T20I cricket, there exists a possibility; however, Australia is a formidable opponent in ODI cricket.”

Wasim advised the Pakistan players to focus on executing high-quality cricket, emphasizing that securing even a single ODI victory under these conditions would be a significant achievement for the team.

“They ought to concentrate solely on cricket and strive for success against Australia.” Securing even a single ODI victory out of three in Australia would be significant,” he stated.