Mohammad Rizwan Joins Elite Club of Captains After South Africa Whitewash

On Sunday, December 22, Pakistan capped off a dominant ODI series with a commanding 36-run victory over South Africa in Johannesburg, sealing a historic 3-0 whitewash for Mohammad Rizwan’s team.

The victory not only highlighted Pakistan’s resurgence in 50-over cricket but also placed Rizwan in an exclusive list of Asian captains who have achieved whitewashes against SENA teams (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) in their own backyard.

Rizwan’s leadership has earned him a spot alongside legendary names like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Mahela Jayawardene, making him the fourth Asian captain to achieve this rare feat.

Here’s the complete list of Asian captains to whitewash SENA teams in their own countries:

Rizwan stepped into the captaincy role in white-ball cricket earlier this year following Babar Azam’s resignation. Although his tenure began with a loss in his first ODI against Australia, Rizwan quickly turned things around, clinching a 2-1 series win.

Under Mohammad Rizwan’s budding leadership, Pakistan has played six ODIs, winning five of them, including the historic South Africa whitewash. While the T20Is during the tour did not yield the same results, Rizwan’s overall performance as captain has drawn widespread praise.

Mohammad Rizwan will now make way for Shan Masood as Pakistan shifts its focus to the two-match Test series against South Africa. Rizwan’s next outing as the leader will be in a tri-series featuring the Proteas and New Zealand ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, where they aim to replicate their success on the global stage.