By Asif Naveed
ISLAMABAD; Former Pakistan ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan voluntarily stepped aside to allow Shaheen Shah Afridi to take over the leadership, Afridi revealed on Monday ahead of Pakistan’s three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.
Shaheen was appointed captain last month, shortly after Rizwan was removed from the role despite leading Pakistan in five ODI series and an ICC Champions Trophy campaign. While Rizwan struggled in the Champions Trophy, he had previously guided Pakistan to series victories in Australia, South Africa, and against the West Indies.
Reports suggested that Rizwan had disagreements with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and even turned down a central contract when he was removed. Shaheen, however, clarified that he consulted Rizwan before assuming the role. “Rizwan is a good human and he decided himself to step back and let me replace him,” Afridi said.
Shaheen, who himself replaced Babar Azam as T20I captain in 2024, stressed that past conflicts did not influence his current decisions. He added that he actively seeks advice from all teammates, including former captains.
Afridi also defended the performance of Rizwan and Babar Azam, noting that responsibility lies with the entire team. “Everyone has to take responsibility if we want to improve as a team… Rizwan is Pakistan’s top-scorer in ODIs since 2023, and we aim to back players who are out of form so they can perform in future matches,” he said.
Looking ahead, Shaheen expressed his focus on strengthening Pakistan’s ODI cricket, especially with the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in sight. He also highlighted the importance of captain involvement in selection matters to ensure a motivated and cohesive team.
Pakistan’s new captain and his team will face a challenging Sri Lanka side on slower pitches in Rawalpindi, after winning his first assignment against South Africa. Afridi emphasized that his role is to enhance Pakistan’s ODI performance and guide his teammates toward consistent success.
