Shaheen Afridi Named Pakistan’s New ODI Captain, Replaces Mohammad Rizwan
Left-arm pacer to lead in South Africa series starting November 4 after PCB reshuffle following poor run under Rizwan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Shaheen Afridi as the new ODI captain, replacing Mohammed Rizwan, the board announced on Monday. Pakistan have named a new ODI captain, taking over the reins from Mohammad Rizwan.
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the left-arm pacer will lead Pakistan in his first assignment when they take on South Africa in a three-match ODI series beginning on November 4.
Since making his debut in 2018, Shaheen has been a vital part of Pakistan’s bowling attack, taking 131 wickets in 66 matches at an average of 24.28. Over the years, he has cemented his place as Pakistan’s frontline pacer.
Shaheen last captained Pakistan in early 2024, leading the T20I side in a five-match home series against New Zealand that ended level at 2-2.
The decision to replace Rizwan and appoint Afridi as captain was made following a meeting attended by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Director of High Performance Aqib Javed and members of the national selection committee in Islamabad, the website noted.
Mohammad Rizwan had taken over Pakistan’s white-ball captaincy in October 2024 and marked the beginning with immediate success. Under his leadership, Pakistan achieved a historic ODI series victory over Australia, their first bilateral series win on Australian soil in 22 years.
Rizwan’s captaincy continued with an impressive 3-0 sweep against South Africa in their own backyard, followed by a 2-1 series win over Zimbabwe, cementing Rizwan’s strong start as skipper.
However, in early 2025, Pakistan suffered a setback with a tri-series loss at home to New Zealand, followed by the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 where the team failed to progress past the group stage, finishing bottom of a pool featuring New Zealand, India and Bangladesh.
Subsequent defeats, including a 3-0 whitewash loss in New Zealand and a 2-1 home series loss to West Indies, compounded Pakistan’s struggles.
The final game saw Pakistan bowled out for just 92 runs, suffering a massive 202-run loss, a result that ultimately marked the end of Rizwan’s tenure as captain.