Breaking:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on 20 October 2025 that left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been appointed the new One Day International (ODI) captain of Pakistan, replacing wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan.
What the board said (and what was decided)
According to PCB statements and multiple news outlets, Shaheen Afridi's appointment was finalized at a PCB meeting attended by senior officials and coaching staff; the left-arm pacer will lead Pakistan in the upcoming three-match ODI series versus South Africa in November. The PCB did not publish a long-term timeline for Afridi's captaincy in that announcement.
Reported reasons behind Rizwan's removal — a detailed look
Multiple reputable outlets report a mix of performance, commercial, and cultural/discipline-related factors that together appear to have influenced the PCB's decision. Below we lay out each reported factor, explain the evidence published so far, and assess its plausibility.
1) Team performance under Rizwan
Rizwan's tenure included a number of difficult results in major tournaments and bilateral series, including Pakistan's disappointing exit from the ICC Champions Trophy and recent series losses which the board flagged as part of the performance review. Multiple sources note the board's desire for a change in leadership to arrest a period of inconsistent white-ball form.
2) Commercial conflict: refusal to promote betting sponsors (reported)
Several reports — including investigative coverage by mainstream outlets — claim Mohammad Rizwan resisted promotional obligations tied to betting sponsors, which reportedly created tension with PCB commercial interests. These accounts suggest the refusal (if confirmed) may have been a decisive commercial flashpoint: boards rely heavily on sponsorship income and expect senior players and captains to participate in promotion campaigns. Note: while multiple outlets reported this, direct quotes from the PCB on this specific claim were not included in the official short announcement.
3) Dressing-room culture and leadership style
Some former players and commentators have been quoted in media pieces saying they perceived differences between Rizwan's leadership style and what the PCB wanted — from team culture to on-field tactics. These are subjective assessments, but they appear to have fed into the narrative that the board wanted a different personality at the helm. Such claims are harder to verify and should be treated as opinion unless corroborated by official PCB statements.
4) Strategic, cricketing reasons: pace-led leadership
Picking Afridi — an established strike bowler — signals the board's intent to back a captain with strong on-field influence over bowling resources and aggressive match tactics. Afridi has prior short captaincy experience in T20s and a high on-field profile; the PCB may think his presence will re-energize the bowling unit and provide tactical advantages in ODI selection and match plans.
Context — captaincy merry-go-round and instability
Analysts note this is the third ODI captaincy change in about a year for Pakistan, reflecting broader instability in leadership decisions after changes at the PCB executive level. That context matters: when administrations shift, a board may change captains quickly to stamp its authority or test different leadership fits.
What this means for the team and upcoming series
- Short-term: Afridi will captain the ODI side in the three-match series vs South Africa (early November). Expect selection tweaks that favor stronger pace options and players comfortable following a fast-bowler-led on-field plan.
- For Rizwan: He remains a senior player with a strong batting record; whether he retains a place in the XI will depend on selection discussions and whether the board intends to keep him as a senior player or phase him out of certain formats. Reports do not indicate a career end — only removal from ODI captaincy.
- Team morale & public reaction: Expect mixed reactions — fans and former players will debate the board’s motives, especially given the sensitive commercial and cultural claims reported. The PCB may aim to minimize distractions by focusing public messaging on performance and future targets.
