LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new captain of the national One Day International (ODI) team, succeeding wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan.
The decision comes ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming home ODI series against South Africa, set to take place from November 4 to 8 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. The announcement followed a high-level meeting in Islamabad attended by Head Coach Mike Hesson, Director High Performance Aaqib Javed, and members of the National Selection Committee.
According to reports, Shaheen will lead the side for the first time in the three-match ODI series, marking his debut assignment as full-time ODI captain. The PCB’s decision was influenced by Pakistan’s inconsistent white-ball performances under Rizwan, who managed just nine wins out of 20 ODIs during his one-year captaincy.
At 25, Shaheen brings both youth and experience to the role, having already represented Pakistan in 66 ODIs and 92 T20Is, with a total of 249 wickets across limited-overs formats. He has also taken 120 wickets in 32 Tests, proving his value as a consistent strike bowler.
Shaheen’s leadership will be tested immediately as Pakistan faces South Africa in a crucial series that will shape the team’s strategy ahead of the 2026 ICC Champions Trophy.
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