Pakistan cricketer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been appointed as the One Day International captain, taking over from Mohammad Rizwan. The decision was made following discussions between the Pakistan Cricket Board's selection committee and white-ball coach Mike Hesson. Afridi expressed deep pride in leading his nation and emphasized his commitment to improving the team's performance in the 50-over format. This marks his second captaincy role after a brief stint as Twenty20 captain in 2023, when he replaced Babar Azam following the World Cup. Pakistan recently completed a drawn Test series and won the Twenty20 series against South Africa. The three-match ODI series against South Africa will take place at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on November 4, 6, and 8. Afridi last featured in an ODI in August 2025 and is focused on leading from the front.
Afridi's Return as Captain and Upcoming Series
Shaheen Shah Afridi described captaining Pakistan as an honour that comes with added responsibility. He stated that leadership appointments are management decisions that players respect. His primary focus is enhancing Pakistan's One Day cricket and setting an example for the team. The 25-year-old previously captained Pakistan in five Twenty20 internationals before being removed from the role. He had taken over from Babar Azam after a disappointing 2023 World Cup campaign. In recent matches against South Africa, Afridi took four wickets in the first Test and three wickets in the third Twenty20 match. The ODI series begins with all three matches scheduled at Faisalabad.
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