Match referee reminded Pakistan about ICC Law 24.1.2; removed Mohammad Rizwan from captaincy on Day 3 of 1st Test vs NZ 

Pakistan and New Zealand are playing the first game of the two-match series at the National Stadium, Karachi. Batting first, Pakistan scored 438 runs in their first inning, and the visitors have taken the first-inning lead at the end of Day 3.

However, a strange thing was seen on the third day when New Zealand was batting. It was seen when Babar Azam left the field due to flue and Mohammed Rizwan came as a substitue. And the Pakistani team management asked Rizwan to take over the captaincy duties in the absence of Babar.

Babar didn't take the field on Day 3 because of the flu. However, the home team didn't know that it was not allowed for a substitute to take the leadership role in the game.

As a result, the match referee stepped in to remind Pakistan that, according to ICC Law 24.1.2, it is not allowed. The law says that a substitute fielder can't act as a captain in the game, which caused Sarfaraz Ahmed to take the responsibility.

ICC Law 24.1.2: A substitute shall not bowl or act as captain but may act as wicketkeeper only with the consent of the umpires.

Notably, Babar came to the field after 30 mintues from the lunch. Although he was very lucky as he came to the field, Pakistan got the wicket of Henry Nicholls, who was dismissed in the 81st over of the inning by Nauman Ali.

In the first innings, Babar (161) and Agha Salman (103) scored centuries for the hosts. In reply, New Zealand got off to a brilliant start with a 183-run partnership for the first wicket between Tom Latham and Devon Conway (92). Latham scored 113. Meanwhile, former skipper Kane Williamson scored his 25th test century.

He remained unbeaten on 105 runs at the end of Day 3. New Zealand ended the day at 440/6, and they will look to bat on Day 4 to take a big lead so that they can give time to their bowlers to dismiss Pakistan in the second inning.