A major opportunity has been handed to star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed him the captain of Pakistan’s One Day International (ODI) team, ARY News reported.
Shaheen will lead the side in the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa, scheduled to be played from November 4 to 8 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.
The decision to elevate Afridi to the captaincy role was finalized during a high-level meeting held in Islamabad, attended by Head Coach Mike Hesson, Director High Performance Aqib Javed, and members of the selection committee. With this appointment, Shaheen replaces Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s ODI skipper.
Shaheen, who has been a consistent performer for Pakistan, has represented the country in 66 ODIs and 92 T20Is, claiming a combined total of 249 wickets. In the Test format, he has featured in 32 matches, taking 120 wickets, excluding the ongoing second Test against South Africa.
The decision follows days of speculation about a possible change in ODI leadership. Just two days ago, the PCB dismissed rumors about Shaheen’s potential appointment but later confirmed discussions were underway.
In an earlier statement, the board had revealed that Head Coach Mike Hesson recommended a joint meeting of the Selection Committee and the Advisory Committee to finalize the matter. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi subsequently approved the request, and the meeting on October 20 paved the way for Shaheen’s official appointment.
Shaheen’s appointment comes at a critical time for Pakistan, following a string of disappointing performances in 50-over cricket this year. The team failed to progress beyond the first round of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, suffered a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand, and lost a 2-1 series to the West Indies.
With this new leadership, the PCB hopes to rejuvenate Pakistan’s ODI campaign and restore confidence in the national setup ahead of the 2026 cricket season.
