Mohammad Rizwan Kicked Out As Shaheen Afridi Appointed New Pakistan Captain
Shaheen Shah Afridi replaces Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s new ODI captain ahead of the South Africa series, marking another major leadership change by the PCB.
In another major leadership change, Pakistan have named Shaheen Afridi as their new ODI captain, replacing Mohammad Rizwan ahead of the home series against South Africa starting November 4 in Faisalabad.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the decision on Monday after an important meeting in Islamabad involving head coach Mike Hesson, Director of High Performance Aqib Javed, and members of the selection committee.
The 25-year-old left-arm pacer has already been one of Pakistan’s biggest match-winners across formats, with 249 wickets in limited-overs cricket and 120 in Tests.
This marks Shaheen’s return to captaincy after previously being removed from the T20 leadership role earlier this year. The PCB’s latest move suggests a long-term plan focused on grooming him for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“Shaheen’s appointment for the upcoming series was finalised today after detailed discussions in Islamabad,” the PCB said in a short release.
The decision comes after Rizwan’s mixed stint as ODI captain, where he led Pakistan in 20 matches, winning nine and losing eleven. Pakistan will host South Africa for three ODIs from November 4 to 8 at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium.
