Pakistan Appoints Shaheen Afridi New ODI Captain Ahead South Africa Series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new captain of the national One-Day International (ODI) cricket team, replacing Mohammad Rizwan. Afridi, 25, will lead Pakistan in the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa starting November 4, marking his first assignment as ODI captain. The decision was taken after a meeting involving PCB officials, including white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and High Performance Director Aqib Javed, reflecting broader PCB support rather than just the coach's preference. Rizwan, who took over as captain in October 2024 and led Pakistan to several early series wins, was removed following a series of poor performances, including a disappointing ICC Champions Trophy campaign and series losses in New Zealand and the West Indies. Afridi, who has an impressive ODI record with 131 wickets in 66 matches and prior leadership experience in T20Is and the Pakistan Super League, is seen as a key figure for Pakistan's future, especially with the 2027 World Cup in view. This leadership change continues the PCB's recent pattern of captaincy adjustments amid efforts to strengthen the team's performance in international white-ball cricket.