Haste makes waste: Amir calls Shaheen’s ODI captaincy a rushed decision

WEB DESK: Former fast bowler Mohammad Amir has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to replace Mohammad Rizwan with Shaheen Shah Afridi as the national ODI captain, saying the wicketkeeper-batter was treated unfairly.

In a video statement shared on Facebook, Amir said Rizwan had proven himself as a capable leader, citing Pakistan’s away series wins against South Africa and Australia under his captaincy. “What happened with Rizwan wasn’t right. He was a good ODI captain, winning in places where even top captains have struggled,” he said adding that the performance against West Indies should not be seen as the sole marker for his performance.

The 33-year-old former pacer blamed frequent captaincy changes for Pakistan’s inconsistent performances, saying instability had become a defining feature of the team. “Every few months, we change captains. One bad series and the captain is gone. It takes two to three years to build a leader,” Amir remarked.

He also questioned the timing of Shaheen’s appointment, suggesting the PCB should have tested him as vice-captain first. “If they wanted to make Shaheen captain, he should’ve been tried as deputy first. His fitness is another key concern that shouldn’t be ignored,” Amir added.

Rizwan, appointed ODI and T20 captain in October 2024, led Pakistan in 20 ODIs, winning nine and losing 11, a 45 percent win rate. His T20 captaincy was revoked earlier this year after Pakistan’s 4-0 loss to New Zealand.

Shaheen’s first challenge as ODI skipper will be the three-match home series against South Africa, starting November 4 at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium. The left-arm pacer previously led Pakistan in a five-match T20 series against New Zealand in January 2024, which Pakistan lost 4-1.