Shaheen Afridi Replaces Mohammad Rizwan As Pakistan Odi Captain

Originally posted on Cricfit | By Hritik Gupta | Last updated Oct 21, 2025 7:52 AM ET

Pakistan’s subsequent appointment of Shaheen Shah Afridi as their new ODI captain follows the removal of Mohammad Rizwan. The choice was made during a gathering held in Islamabad which involved white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Director High Performance Aqib Javed, and a few members from the selection committee. Afridi will be in charge for the three-match ODI series against South Africa which is slated from November 4 to 8 in Faisalabad.

Afridi’s climb to the top goes hand in hand with the speculation regarding Rizwan’s captaincy that lasted for weeks. Rizwan’s leadership skills were put into question after Pakistan’s failure to perform well in the Champions Trophy 2025. Even though Rizwan had some initial successes, like winning series against Australia and South Africa, his whole performance was considered to be not up to the mark.

With Afridi’s leadership, the Pakistan ODI team enters a new era, as the 2027 World Cup is not too far away. The fans have high expectations for Afridi and the Pakistan team in the near future because of Afridi’s leadership and bowling technicalities.

Shaheen Afridi named Pakistan’s new ODI captain

In a remarkable change of command, Pakistan has brought the star bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi to the forefront of their white-ball cricket hierarchy as the new ODI captain. He literally takes over the position from Mohammad Rizwan, who was directed to part ways with the national team following weeks of speculation about his captaincy. The selection of Afridi as the new captain comes at a time when Pakistan is all prepared for the ODI World Cup and the team is eager to start afresh with the new skipper.

Afridi has never been away from the captaincy; he has already led Pakistan in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Though the series did not favor Pakistan, Afridi is already a very experienced leader from franchise cricket. He led Lahore Qalandars to two consecutive victories in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and was recognized by everyone in the team, including coaches for his composure and aggressiveness.

Afridi’s appointment is an indication of the arrival of a new era for Pakistan’s ODI team, which has been highly unpredictable lately. With the ODI World Cup coming soon, Pakistan will hope for Afridi to provide the team with stability and success. His captaincy skills, alongside his bowling talent, make him a perfect fit for the position.

This article first appeared on Cricfit and was syndicated with permission.

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