Pakistan’s new ODI captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has revealed that he took on the leadership role only after Mohammad Rizwan voluntarily stepped down.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Shaheen said, “I took this responsibility from the Pakistan Cricket Board after discussing the matter with Rizwan.”
Rizwan’s Decision Cleared the Path
Shaheen explained that Rizwan was the only person he consulted before accepting the captaincy. He wanted to ensure Rizwan was comfortable with the decision.
“Rizwan was the only person I had a discussion with, and I asked him how he felt about me accepting the captaincy. Rizwan decided himself he would make way for me, and that is how things worked out,” Shaheen added.
From T20 Captain to ODI Leader
Shaheen had earlier served as Pakistan’s T20I captain in 2023, replacing Babar Azam after the disappointing World Cup campaign. However, his stint was short-lived — he was removed after one series in New Zealand, and Babar was reinstated as captain within six months.
During his brief captaincy, Shaheen led Pakistan in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, gaining valuable leadership experience.
Unity and Collective Growth
Shaheen said that Rizwan offered his full support for the new role and that he aims to work closely with senior players like Babar Azam and Rizwan.
He emphasized teamwork over individual brilliance:
“Team improvement is everyone’s responsibility. You can’t rely on just Babar, Rizwan, or Fakhar — everyone must contribute.”
Praising Rizwan’s consistency, Shaheen called him Pakistan’s top ODI scorer since 2023, and also expressed faith in Babar’s form, saying he was confident Babar would score a century soon.
Focus on the Future
While the Pakistan Cricket Board has not confirmed the duration of Shaheen’s ODI captaincy, the left-arm pacer expressed his commitment to building a strong team for the 2027 World Cup.
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