Shaheen Afridi Appointed Pakistan ODI Captain, Replaces Rizwan

• Shaheen Shah Afridi appointed as Pakistan’s new ODI captain.
• Mohammad Rizwan removed after poor recent performances.
• PCB makes change ahead of ODI series vs South Africa.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially named Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new ODI captain, replacing Mohammad Rizwan, just days before the upcoming three-match series against South Africa. The change in leadership was announced during the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Rawalpindi.

Rizwan, who took charge in October 2024, struggled to deliver consistent results. Under his captaincy, Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025 and lost a three-match ODI series against the West Indies. Although Pakistan managed series wins against Australia and South Africa, the PCB has decided to move forward with new leadership.

Despite Rizwan’s improved form with the bat during his captaincy stint, chief selector Aqib Javed and head coach Mike Hesson reportedly chose to explore other options. The official PCB statement announcing Shaheen’s appointment made no mention of Rizwan or the reason for his removal.

Shaheen Afridi had previously led the T20I team briefly, but his tenure ended after a 1-4 series defeat against New Zealand. With this appointment, Pakistan now has three captains across formats, Shan Masood for Tests, Salman Ali Agha for T20Is, and Shaheen for ODIs.

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The PCB said the decision was made during a meeting in Islamabad, attended by Hesson and members of the selection committee. As Pakistan prepares for a new ODI phase, all eyes will be on Shaheen to bring stability and results to the 50-over format.