PCB's decision to remove Rizwan as ODI captain draws flak

Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to remove Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain and appoint pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi in his place has sparked widespread criticism within cricketing circles.

Former Pakistan Test opener Sadiq Mohammad expressed disappointment over the move.

“No, I don't think it’s a fair decision. Rizwan should have been retained as ODI captain,” Sadiq told Nukta.

“He had done a commendable job, leading Pakistan to historic series wins against Australia and South Africa on their home soil. That achievement should have earned him more respect,” Sadiq said.

Rizwan was appointed ODI captain in October 2024 and made an immediate impact by guiding Pakistan to a 2-1 series win in Australia, an unprecedented feat. He followed that up with a 3-0 whitewash of South Africa in South Africa, another big success in Pakistan’s cricket history.

Despite these achievements Rizwan’s tenure also included some setbacks. Pakistan failed to reach the knockout stage of the ICC Champions Trophy and lost a bilateral series 2-1 to the West Indies at the latter’s backyard. However, his sudden removal still came as a surprise to many, especially given his consistency as a wicketkeeper-batsman and leader.

“Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named captain of the Pakistan men’s ODI team. The left-arm pacer will lead Pakistan in the upcoming three-match series against South Africa, scheduled to be held at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, from November 4 to 8,” the PCB announced in a statement.

The board confirmed that the appointment was finalized during a meeting in Islamabad, attended by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Director of High Performance Aqib Javed and selection committee members.

Leadership changes in Pakistan cricket began on March 13, 2023, when Shadab Khan was appointed T20I captain for the series against Afghanistan in Sharjah under the then PCB chairman Najam Sethi. Later, on November 15, 2023, Babar Azam stepped down as captain. Under Zaka Ashraf’s leadership Shaheen Afridi was named T20I captain while Shan Masood was appointed as Test captain.

On March 29, 2024, Shaheen Afridi was removed from the T20I captaincy under the chairmanship of Mohsin Naqvi. Just two days later, on March 31, 2024, Babar Azam was reinstated as T20I captain for the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, on October 11, 2024, Babar resigned from white-ball captaincy once again. This led to the appointment of Mohammad Rizwan as the new white-ball captain on October 27, 2024. Eventually, on October 20, 2025, Shaheen Afridi was named ODI captain, replacing Rizwan.

Critics argue that the PCB’s frequent captaincy changes are destabilizing the team and undermining long-term planning.

Former pacer Mohammad Amir criticized the decision, calling it unjustified.

“In my opinion, it’s not a fair decision,” Amir said.

“People may point to the series loss against the West Indies but they forget Rizwan’s historic wins in Australia and South Africa, achievements even our biggest names couldn’t manage. This decision feels rushed,” Amir said.

Amir emphasized the need for consistency in leadership:

“You can't build a team by changing the captain every four months. We seem to be avoiding stability in our cricket.”

Former captain Rashid Latif was even more critical, comparing the PCB’s strategy to divisive political tactics.

“Divide and rule is a political strategy used to maintain power by fostering division. It’s unfortunate that even in cricket, Pakistan is struggling to produce and retain a decent captain,” Rashid posted on X.

Shaheen Afridi will now lead Pakistan in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, which begins early next month in Faisalabad.