Pakistan cricket is known for its ability to produce some unexpected moments both on and off the field which can either be through their cricketing brilliance or its innumerable gaffes. On the third morning of the 1st Test against New Zealand, something similar happened. With captain Babar Azam not taking the field due to a flu, it was expected that the team management would depute someone from the playing XI to take charge as designated vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan had been dropped for the match.
Rizwan though was seen leading the team as a substitute and to everyone's amazement he was also taking calls on the field, which is against the laws of the game that clearly state that a substitute cannot act as captain.
Later it was made clear that former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was in charge but he too went for a review after consulting Rizwan and the moment was caught on camera. Cricket fans were left in splits in Twitter over this confusion.
Here are some reactions
The Pakistan team management later clarified that it was Sarfaraz who was the stand-in captain and not Rizwan. But the actions of the two men on the ground didn't really convey the same story.
New Zealand are in a solid position in their response to Pakistan's first innings total of 438. Openers Tom Latham (113) and Conway (92) have laid a strong foundation for the middle order to build on.