By Asif Naveed
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday named left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new captain of the national men’s One Day International (ODI) team, replacing wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan ahead of the three-match home series against South Africa.
According to the PCB, Shaheen’s appointment was confirmed following a meeting in Islamabad attended by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Director High Performance Aqib Javed, and members of the selection committee.
At 25, Shaheen brings considerable experience to the leadership role. He has represented Pakistan in 66 ODIs and 92 T20Is, claiming a combined 249 wickets. In addition, he has taken 120 wickets in 32 Test matches, excluding the ongoing second Test against South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
This will be Shaheen’s second stint as national captain, having earlier led Pakistan in five T20Is against New Zealand in 2024. However, following a 4–1 series loss to the Blackcaps, he was replaced by Babar Azam, who continued as skipper until the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last year.
Mohammad Rizwan, who took charge as both ODI and T20I captain in October 2024, led Pakistan in 20 ODIs, winning nine and losing eleven matches — a win ratio of 45%. His tenure in the shortest format, however, proved disappointing as Pakistan lost all four T20Is under his leadership. Consequently, Rizwan was removed as T20I captain, with Salman Ali Agha appointed to lead in that format.
Despite his early successes — including series wins in South Africa, Australia, and Zimbabwe — Rizwan’s recent failures appear to have prompted the PCB to make another leadership change.
Shaheen, who also captains Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), is reportedly head coach Mike Hesson’s preferred choice to lead the ODI side as Pakistan begins preparations for the 2027 ICC World Cup.
The current PCB administration, headed by Mohsin Naqvi since February 2024, has made several captaincy changes. Shaheen was first replaced by Babar, who later stepped down after a poor T20 World Cup campaign — paving the way for Rizwan’s appointment. Now, with Shaheen’s reinstatement, the PCB appears to be aiming for stability and renewed energy ahead of a crucial home series.
