Islamabad : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a major leadership change in the 50-over format on Monday, naming frontline pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new One Day International (ODI) captain. The 25-year-old left-arm fast bowler takes over the responsibilities from Mohammad Rizwan, effective immediately.
The decision was finalized following a crucial meeting in Islamabad involving white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Director of High Performance Aqib Javed, and members of the national selection committee. The change comes after a challenging period for the team in early 2025 under the previous leadership.
Afridi’s first assignment will be a three-match ODI series against South Africa, scheduled to begin on November 4th. Despite his young age, Shaheen brings a wealth of experience and an impressive track record to the role, having represented Pakistan in 66 ODIs and claimed 131 wickets at a strong average of 24.28 since his debut in 2018.
While Afridi is a veteran of the bowling attack, his leadership experience has been limited. He previously led Pakistan’s T20I side in a five-match home series against New Zealand in early 2024, which concluded in a 2-2 draw.
Mohammad Rizwan’s tenure, which began in October 2024, had a successful start, notably leading Pakistan to a historic ODI series victory in Australia—their first bilateral win on Australian soil in 22 years. However, the team’s form dipped in 2025, marked by a tri-series loss at home, an early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy, and a 3-0 whitewash in New Zealand.
The final straw for the previous captaincy came during a 2-1 series defeat to the West Indies, where the team suffered a massive 202-run loss in the final game, being bowled out for just 92 runs. The PCB is now banking on the dynamic energy and on-field intensity of Shaheen Afridi to revitalize the ODI squad ahead of future global tournaments.
