Shaheen Afridi Named Pakistan ODI Captain Amid Controversy

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday sacked Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain and named Shaheen Shah Afridi his replacement ahead of a three-match ODI series against South Africa starting Nov. 4. The appointment was finalised after a selection/advisory committee meeting in Islamabad attended by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Director High Performance Aqib Javed and selection committee members. PCB and outlets cited Pakistan’s poor recent ODI form — including a group-stage exit at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and bilateral defeats in New Zealand and the West Indies — as the principal sporting rationale. Some media reports say possible additional factors include Rizwan’s refusal to promote or wear betting-company sponsors and his public remarks on Palestine, while other reports say Rizwan was not given clear reasons for his removal. Shaheen, 25, returns for a second stint as white-ball captain, marking Pakistan’s third ODI captaincy change in 12 months, and PCB officials said the move is part of preparations for the road to the 2027 ODI World Cup.