Shaheen Afridi replaces Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has removed Mohammad Rizwan as the national ODI captain, appointing Shaheen Shah Afridi as his replacement.

The PCB said in a statement that left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead Pakistan in the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa, scheduled to be played at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium from November 4 to 8.

The decision was made during a meeting of PCB selection and advisory committees held in Islamabad. The meeting was attended head coach Mike Hesson, director high performance Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and Aleem Dar and former captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Shaheen Afridi, the 25-year-old pacer has represented Pakistan in 66 ODIs and 92 T20 Internationals, claiming a total of 249 wickets, along with 120 wickets in 32 Test matches.

Shaheen Afridi previously captained Pakistan in a five-match T20 series against New Zealand in 2024.

Rizwan’s performance in the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year remained disappointing as Pakistan exited the tournament in the group stage. The national side also suffered back-to-back defeats in subsequent series against New Zealand and the West Indies.

Rizwan last captained the ODI team in August 2025 against the West Indies — a series Pakistan lost for the first time since 1991. Around the same time, he was quietly replaced as T20 captain by Salman Ali Agha.

Shaheen Afridi, who has played 66 ODIs and 92 T20Is, will now lead Pakistan in the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa.