The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a surprising leadership change by removing Mohammad Rizwan as the captain of the Pakistan ODI team. Shaheen Shah Afridi has been appointed as his replacement. This announcement came during the ongoing Test match between Pakistan and South Africa in Rawalpindi, where both Rizwan, aged 33, and Afridi, 25, are active players.
Lack of Official Explanation Behind Rizwan’s Removal
The PCB has not provided any explicit reason for the decision to replace Rizwan. Notably, Rizwan was absent from the official statement released by the board. According to PCB, the decision emerged following a meeting held in Islamabad, which included the selection committee and white-ball head coach Mike Hesson.
Background: Signs of Rizwan’s Captaincy Being in Question
Rizwan’s removal appeared inevitable after the PCB’s ambiguous statement over the weekend. The board refrained from confirming Rizwan as the ODI captain ahead of the South Africa white-ball tour. Instead, it was revealed that coach Mike Hesson requested PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to arrange a meeting with selectors and advisors to discuss appointing a new captain.
Wider Support for the Leadership Change
Sources from ESPNcricinfo suggest that the move to replace Rizwan was not solely driven by Mike Hesson. The decision had considerable backing from the upper echelons of PCB’s administration, indicating a broader consensus for the leadership shift.
Afridi’s Previous Captaincy Experience
Shaheen Afridi’s last stint as a white-ball captain was challenging. He led the Pakistan T20I team during the January 2024 series against New Zealand, which ended in a 4-1 defeat. Similar to Rizwan’s recent experience, Afridi was replaced after the series, with PCB chairman Naqvi declining to confirm his continuation. Afridi’s successor then became Babar Azam.
Captains Across Formats: The Pakistan Scenario
Pakistan has adopted the approach of having different captains for each format, a strategy set to continue. Among the current pool, Rizwan was once considered the most secure captaincy option, alongside players like Shan Masood and Salman Ali Agha. Since taking charge of the ODI team last year, Rizwan amassed runs at an average just under 42 and led Pakistan to series victories in Australia and South Africa during 2024. However, recent performances have faltered, including a disappointing early exit at the Champions Trophy held at home.
Afridi’s Strengths as the New ODI Captain
Shaheen Afridi arrives in his new role with strong credentials. He was Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs last year and played a key role in the team’s wins on South African and Australian soil. Since the 2023 World Cup, Afridi has claimed 45 wickets, the highest tally for any fast bowler from a Full Member nation, maintaining a wicket-taking rate of over two per game.
Upcoming Challenge: South Africa White-Ball Series
Afridi’s maiden assignment as ODI captain will be the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa. This series, scheduled for next month, includes three ODIs to be held in Faisalabad.
