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Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been appointed as Pakistan’s new one-day international (ODI) captain, replacing wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced late on Monday.
The leadership change marks another reshuffle in Pakistan’s white-ball setup, coming less than a year after Rizwan was handed the reins in both limited-overs formats. The PCB said Afridi’s appointment followed internal discussions and was approved during a meeting held in Islamabad attended by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Director of High Performance Aqib Javed, and members of the national selection committee.
“Shaheen’s appointment for the upcoming series was finalised today following a meeting in Islamabad,” the PCB said in an official statement. “The decision has been made in the best interest of Pakistan cricket and the team’s future direction.”
The statement, however, made no mention of the duration of Afridi’s tenure, leaving it unclear whether he will continue beyond the upcoming ODI series against South Africa.
Rizwan had taken charge as white-ball captain in October last year after Pakistan’s early exit from the Asia Cup, a move intended to inject stability and focus into the national side. However, his tenure has been marked by inconsistency and a string of underwhelming results.
Under Rizwan’s leadership, Pakistan failed to progress beyond the group stage of the Champions Trophy earlier this year — a major disappointment for a side with high expectations. The team’s form in bilateral series also raised questions, most notably following a 2-1 series defeat in the West Indies in August, which further intensified scrutiny over his captaincy.
Team insiders had pointed to tactical rigidity and questionable batting orders during Rizwan’s captaincy, while others defended him as a hard-working leader navigating a period of transition for the side. Nevertheless, the PCB’s patience appeared to have run out after Pakistan’s repeated failures to secure momentum in the one-day format.
Shaheen Afridi, 24, has been one of Pakistan’s most reliable fast bowlers across formats since making his international debut in 2018. Known for his fiery opening spells and ability to swing the new ball, Afridi has been viewed as a natural leader within the bowling group and a long-term candidate for captaincy.
This is not Afridi’s first brush with leadership. He previously served as Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain for a short stint last year, but his tenure ended abruptly following a 4-1 series defeat in New Zealand, prompting the PCB to reconsider his workload and leadership readiness.
Despite that setback, Afridi remains one of the most respected figures in the dressing room and commands strong support from both teammates and fans. His reappointment is seen by many analysts as a vote of confidence in his maturity and evolving leadership skills.
Pakistan is currently engaged in a two-match Test series against South Africa, with the limited-overs leg of the tour — comprising three ODIs — scheduled to follow next month. Afridi’s first challenge as captain will come in that series, where Pakistan will look to reverse their recent run of poor form and rebuild confidence ahead of next year’s ICC Champions Trophy.
Cricket observers believe Afridi’s appointment could also signal the beginning of a broader leadership restructuring within Pakistan’s setup, as the PCB seeks to stabilize a side that has seen frequent changes in captaincy and coaching roles over the past two years.
As for Rizwan, the PCB has yet to comment on his future role within the white-ball team, though he remains an integral part of Pakistan’s batting lineup and is expected to continue as first-choice wicketkeeper.
With Afridi’s return to leadership, Pakistan will hope to blend youthful aggression with renewed tactical clarity as they aim to restore consistency in the ODI format.
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