ABU DHABI, UAE
Chundangapoyil Rizwan will replace Ahmed Raza as the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) skipper just ahead of the Asia Cup, it emerged.
Long-serving skipper Ahmed Raza has been relieved of the captaincy for the T20 format, United Arab Emirates’ cricket board announced Friday.
Middle order batter Rizwan will take over the role in the shortest format, while Raza will continue as captain of the ODI side.
“The committee believes, after extensive discussions, and following a detailed review of the side’s recent 50-over performance, by providing the respective captains with a sole-format-focus, it creates a strong leadership succession plan, and encourages a singular commitment to fine-tuning strategic on-field components of the game.” read a statement that accompanied the squad announcement.
Raza has been the UAE’s most successful captain in T20Is, the Emirates winning two thirds of their fixtures in the format under his leadership, and successfully qualifying for the T20 2022 World Cup.
Thrust into the role under difficult circumstances, Raza took over the captaincy from Mohammad Naveed in late 2019 ahead of the previous T20 World Cup Qualifier, immediately before the side was plunged into a corruption crisis that saw several senior players, including his predecessor, handed lengthy bans.
