In yet one more dramatic twist in Pakistan cricket’s management saga, pacer Shaheen Afridi has been appointed as the brand new ODI captain, changing Mohammad Rizwan. The announcement got here from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday, October 20, signaling yet one more shift within the staff’s management hierarchy.
The announcement got here following a vital assembly in Islamabad, which included white-ball coach Mike Hesson, Excessive Efficiency Director Aqib Javed, and the nationwide choice committee. Shaheen Afridi will lead Pakistan for the primary time within the three-match ODI sequence towards South Africa, set to start on November 4.
This appointment marks a return to management for the 24-year-old left-arm fast, who final captained Pakistan in T20Is again in early 2024, however that ended after simply two months.
Identified for his aggression and consistency with the brand new ball, Shaheen’s management model will now be below scrutiny as Pakistan look to rebuild their white-ball construction following a string of inconsistent efficiency.
Rizwan’s removing brings an finish to a quick and turbulent tenure. The wicketkeeper-batsman had taken over as Pakistan’s ODI and T20I captain in October 2024, however his stint yielded blended outcomes. Beneath his management, Pakistan gained 9 out of 20 ODIs and misplaced 11, recording a win share of 45. His time accountable for the T20I aspect was much more underwhelming, as Pakistan suffered defeats in all 4 matches he captained.
After these losses, Rizwan was changed as T20I skipper by Salman Ali Agha, whereas retaining the ODI reins, till now. The PCB’s newest determination continues the sample of frequent captaincy adjustments that has lengthy plagued Pakistan cricket, elevating questions on stability and long-term planning throughout the setup.
With Shaheen Afridi now on the helm, Pakistan will hope for a contemporary sense of path forward of a busy worldwide schedule.
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