Shaheen Afridi Appointed Pakistans New ODI Captain

A major leadership change has taken place in Pakistan cricket — left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been appointed as the new ODI captain of the national team. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the decision in an official statement on Monday, marking the end of wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan’s stint as ODI skipper.

With this move, Pakistan now have three different captains across all formats. Salman Ali Agha leads the T20I side, Shan Masood continues as the Test captain, and Shaheen Afridi will take charge of the ODI team.

Shaheen’s first assignment as captain will be the three-match ODI series against South Africa, beginning November 4 in Pakistan. The decision was made during a key meeting held in Islamabad, attended by head coach Mike Hesson, High Performance Director Aaqib Javed, and members of the selection committee.

Since making his ODI debut in 2018, Shaheen has played 66 matches, claiming 131 wickets at an average of 24.28. During the 2023 ODI World Cup, he took 18 wickets, showcasing his consistency and match-winning ability.

The left-arm quick had earlier captained Pakistan’s T20I side for a brief period but was removed following the series defeat against New Zealand in January 2024.

On the other hand, Mohammad Rizwan, who had been leading the ODI team since October last year, has been replaced after an inconsistent run of results. While Pakistan registered some successes under his captaincy, the board has now placed its trust in Shaheen Afridi’s leadership to bring renewed energy and direction to the ODI setup.