Pakistan Cricket Team: Pakistan Cricket Shocker: Rizwan Sacked as ODI Captain, Shaheen Afridi Takes Over

Pakistan cricket has once again witnessed a significant leadership change. As wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has been stripped of the ODI captaincy. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that 25-year-old fast bowler Shaheen Shah. Afridi will take over as the new skipper for the One-Day International format. This major decision was revealed after the first day's play in the ongoing Test match against South Africa in Rawalpindi.

Unexplained Change

Both Rizwan, 33, and Afridi, 25, are currently part of the Test squad. However, the PCB didn't provide any official reason for Rizwan's removal, nor did their statement explicitly mention his name, while the board merely stated that the decision was made following a meeting between the selection committee and White-Ball Head Coach Mike Hesson in Islamabad. Speculation about a change had been rife since last week when the PCB issued a statement that didn't confirm Rizwan's continuation as captain.

Shaheen's Second Stint

This marks Shaheen Afridi's second opportunity to lead a white-ball team for Pakistan. He previously captained the T20I side against New Zealand in January 2024, a series Pakistan lost 1-4. Following that defeat, Babar Azam was reinstated as captain. It remains to be seen how Afridi will navigate this new challenge in the ODI format.

Rizwan's Captaincy Tenure

Mohammad Rizwan assumed the ODI captaincy last year. Under his leadership, the team secured series victories in Australia and South Africa. However, questions were raised about his captaincy after the team's early exit from the home Champions Trophy earlier this year. As a batsman, he maintained an average of approximately 42 during his captaincy stint.

Afridi's Stellar Form

Shaheen Afridi is currently in exceptional form. He was Pakistan's highest wicket-taker in ODIs last year and played a crucial role in the team's series wins in South Africa and Australia, while since the 2023 World Cup, Afridi's 45 wickets are the most by any fast bowler from a full-member team. Following the conclusion of the ongoing Test series in Rawalpindi, Pakistan will play a white-ball series under Shaheen Afridi's captaincy, scheduled for next month in Faisalabad.