Pakistan’s ODI team saw a captaincy change as Shaheen Shah Afridi took over from Mohammad Rizwan, who stepped down following criticism post the team’s Champions Trophy exit. Shaheen shared that he accepted the captaincy after discussions with Rizwan, who willingly made way for him. The transition occurred ahead of the series against South Africa.
Shaheen had briefly led the T20I team after Babar Azam’s resignation post the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, his term was short-lived, with Babar being reinstated as captain after less than six months. Despite the brief stint, Shaheen expressed optimism, citing Rizwan’s assurance of support. He emphasized the importance of backing players like Babar and Rizwan for the team’s success, highlighting their crucial roles.
Shaheen stressed the collective responsibility of the team to improve, mentioning the need to support players even when they are out of form for future matches. Pakistan recently made history by defeating South Africa in a home ODI series under Shaheen’s leadership.