The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new captain of the national ODI team. The decision was made during a joint meeting of the PCB’s Selection and Advisory Committees held in Islamabad, ahead of the upcoming ODI series against South Africa.
Shaheen to lead Pakistan in ODI series against South Africa
Shaheen Afridi will lead Pakistan in the three-match ODI series scheduled to take place at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, from November 4 to 8. The left-arm pacer, known for his aggressive bowling and leadership in the T20 format, now steps into the ODI captaincy role for the first time.
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The meeting to finalise his appointment included Head Coach Mike Hesson, High Performance Director Aqib Javed, and members of the selection committee.
Details of PCB meeting in Islamabad
The crucial meeting in Islamabad brought together senior cricket figures, including Aqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Misbahul Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Mike Hesson. The group discussed potential candidates for the ODI captaincy before reaching a unanimous decision in favour of Shaheen Afridi.
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According to sources, Shaheen Afridi and Salman Ali Agha were the two leading contenders for the position. The final approval for the captaincy was given by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who endorsed Afridi’s leadership based on his consistency, experience, and growing maturity as a senior player.
Background and previous leadership changes
This appointment comes almost a year after Muhammad Rizwan was named Pakistan’s ODI captain on October 27, 2024. Since then, the team’s leadership structure has seen periodic adjustments as the PCB looks to strengthen its long-term strategy ahead of major tournaments.
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Shaheen Afridi’s new role as ODI captain follows his previous leadership stints in the T20 format, from which he had been removed later.
Upcoming ODI series in Faisalabad
The upcoming Pakistan-South Africa ODI series will be played at the historic Iqbal Stadium from November 4 to 8. The series is expected to draw strong local and international attention, marking Shaheen Afridi’s first assignment as ODI captain.
Earlier, it had been reported that Pakistan’s white-ball leadership was set for a reshuffle, as Mohammad Rizwan was likely to be removed from ODI captaincy. Pace spearhead Shaheen was expected to be handed over the leadership role as part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new strategic direction.
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Sources within the Board had indicated that Rizwan’s tenure as ODI captain could come to an end soon.
Shaheen Afridi expected to take over
According to insiders, Shaheen Shah Afridi had emerged as the top contender for the ODI captaincy. The young fast bowler, known for his aggressive style and leadership experience in T20 cricket, was expected to bring renewed energy and direction to Pakistan’s one-day side.
