The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan as vice-captain of Pakistan's T20I team as some members arrived in New Zealand city of Auckland from Sydney on Monday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Rizwan’s first assignment will be to serve as deputy of Shaheen Shah Afridi in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, starting from Friday at Auckland.

Reacting to the PCB’s decision, Rizwan said: “It is an honour to be named as the vice-captain of Pakistan Men’s T20I side. I am thankful to the PCB for entrusting me with this responsibility. I am looking forward to working closely with the captain, coaching staff, and my teammates to contribute to the team's success.”

Rizwan has featured in 85 T20Is, amassing 2,797 runs, including one century and 25 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, Rizwan has taken 41 catches and 11 stumpings.

The five-match T20I series will be played from 12 to 21 January in Auckland, Hamilton, Dunedin and Christchurch.

Pakistan's T20I skipper, Shaheen, along with a contingent of five other members from the T20I squad, comprising Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Rizwan, Aamer Jamal, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr reached Auckland from Sydney on Monday.

T20 Squad

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain and wicket-keeper) Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz,  Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan

Full schedule:

1st T20 – 12 January 2024 at Eden Park, Auckland

2nd T20 – 14 January 2024 at Seddon Park, Hamilton

3rd T20 – 17 January 2024 at University Oval, Dunedin

4th T20 – 19 January 2024 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch

5th T20 – 21 January 2024 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch