In yet another dramatic twist in Pakistan’s cricket leadership saga, pacer Shaheen Afridi has been named as the new ODI captain, replacing Mohammad Rizwan. The announcement came from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday, October 20, signaling another shift in the team’s management hierarchy.
The announcement came after a crucial meeting in Islamabad involving white-ball coach Mike Hesson, managing director Aqib Javed and the national selection committee. Shaheen Afridi will lead Pakistan for the first time in the three-match ODI series against South Africa starting on November 4.
The appointment marks a return to leadership for the 24-year-old left-arm fast bowler, who last captained Pakistan in a T20I in early 2024, but after two months it ended.
Known for his aggression and consistency with the new ball, Shaheen’s leadership style will now be under scrutiny as Pakistan look to rebuild their white-ball structure after a string of inconsistent performances.
Rizwan’s removal marks the end of a short and turbulent tenure. In October 2024, the wicketkeeper-batsman became Pakistan’s ODI and T20I captain, but his tenure produced mixed results. Under his leadership, Pakistan won 9 out of 20 ODIs and lost 11, recording a win percentage of 45. His time in charge of the T20I side was even more devastating as Pakistan suffered defeats in all four matches he led.
Following these losses, Rizwan was replaced as T20I captain by Salman Ali Agha, retaining the ODI reins so far. The PCB’s latest decision continues a pattern of frequent captain changes that have long plagued Pakistan cricket, raising questions about stability and long-term planning within the set-up.
With Shaheen Afridi now at the helm, Pakistan will be hoping for a new sense of direction ahead of a busy international schedule.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
October 20, 2025
