In a major leadership change ahead of Pakistan’s three-match ODI series against South Africa from November 4–8 at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named the new ODI captain, replacing wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday.
According to the PCB, Shaheen’s appointment was confirmed after a meeting in Islamabad attended by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Director High Performance Aqib Javed, and members of the selection committee.
“The decision to appoint Shaheen for the upcoming ODI series was finalised today following the meeting in Islamabad,” the PCB stated in a brief release.
The 25-year-old left-arm fast bowler brings significant experience to the role, having played 66 ODIs and 92 T20Is, claiming a total of 249 wickets, along with 120 wickets in 32 Tests (excluding the ongoing Rawalpindi Test against South Africa).
Rizwan, who captained Pakistan in 20 ODIs, registered nine wins and 11 losses, with a 45% winning record.
The decision comes amid ongoing criticism of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s administration for frequent captaincy changes. The board had previously replaced Shaheen with Babar Azam in 2024, only to later hand over the reins to Rizwan a few months ago.
Earlier this year, Shaheen briefly led Pakistan during a five-match T20I home series against New Zealand, which ended in a 2–2 draw.
This latest move reflects a broader strategic shift as Pakistan looks to build stability ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. With the South Africa series fast approaching, attention now turns to how Shaheen balances his new leadership role with his responsibilities as Pakistan’s premier fast bowler.
