Pakistan cricket has seen a significant leadership transition with the announcement that star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will now captain the ODI team, succeeding Mohammad Rizwan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the change on Monday, following deliberations in Islamabad attended by key figures including white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and Director of High Performance Aqib Javed. Afridi’s first challenge as the new 50-over captain will be a three-match ODI series against South Africa, kicking off on November 4th. The young pace sensation has already carved out a strong reputation in ODIs since his 2018 debut, boasting 131 wickets from 66 matches at an average of 24.28. He has consistently been a vital part of Pakistan’s bowling attack. Previously, Afridi captained Pakistan in the T20I format during a series against New Zealand in early 2024. The decision to replace Rizwan comes after the PCB’s recent statement that did not confirm him as the long-term ODI captain, hinting at a review of the leadership. While Rizwan achieved a respectable batting average of nearly 42 and led Pakistan to series triumphs in Australia and South Africa in 2024, a decline in team performance this year, including a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign, appears to have prompted this strategic captaincy change.
