The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a major leadership reshuffle, naming star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new One Day International captain, effectively ending Mohammad Rizwan’s tenure in the role.
The 25-year-old left-arm pacer will make his ODI captaincy debut during Pakistan’s upcoming three-match series against South Africa at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium, scheduled from November 4 to 8, 2025.
This strategic decision emerged from a high-level meeting conducted by the PCB’s selection and advisory committees in Islamabad. The session brought together key cricket figures including head coach Mike Hesson, high-performance director Aaqib Javed, and former captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed, alongside Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, and Aleem Dar.
Shaheen brings considerable international experience to the captaincy, having represented Pakistan across 66 ODIs, 92 T20 Internationals, and 32 Test matches. His impressive bowling record includes 249 wickets in limited-overs cricket and 120 Test wickets. The fiery pacer previously demonstrated leadership capabilities while captaining Pakistan’s T20 squad against New Zealand in 2024.
Rizwan’s removal follows a challenging period for Pakistan cricket. The team’s disappointing Champions Trophy campaign earlier this year saw them eliminated during the group stage. Subsequent series losses to New Zealand and the West Indies further intensified scrutiny of the team’s leadership.
The breaking point came in August 2025 when Pakistan suffered a historic series defeat against the West Indies—their first loss to the Caribbean side since 1991. Shortly afterward, Rizwan was also quietly replaced as T20 captain by Salman Ali Agha, signaling the board’s desire for fresh leadership.
The PCB’s decision reflects growing confidence in Shaheen’s ability to revitalize Pakistan’s ODI fortunes. As one of cricket’s premier fast bowlers, his appointment aims to inject renewed energy and strategic direction into the national team’s white-ball format.
