Pakistan’s ODI captaincy has seen a dramatic upheaval with Mohammad Rizwan being replaced by Shaheen Shah Afridi, as reported late Monday. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision has sent ripples through the cricket community. Rizwan’s tenure as captain, which began less than a year ago following Babar Azam’s departure, has come to an abrupt end. Shaheen Afridi, who had previously relinquished the T20I captaincy earlier this year, now assumes leadership of the 50-over format, signaling a period of significant leadership flux. The speed of this change has drawn scrutiny regarding the PCB’s strategic planning and leadership stability. Sources indicate that white-ball head coach Mike Hesson was a key proponent of this leadership switch. His advocacy, reportedly supported by selection committee members and advisors like Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed, and high-performance director Aaqib Javed, is said to have been the catalyst. Internal discussions are believed to have taken place in Islamabad, where Hesson’s recommendation was reportedly acted upon swiftly. Another reported factor involves internal discomfort within the PCB regarding Rizwan’s strong religious influence in team settings. An insider mentioned that some officials were apprehensive about the level of religious discussion, which apparently made a few players uncomfortable. In contrast, other reports suggest Rizwan’s principled stand against endorsing betting companies was the actual reason for his dismissal. It is alleged that Rizwan communicated his refusal to promote surrogate betting brands, causing significant friction with the PCB’s commercial agreements. A board source indicated that Rizwan’s stance on betting sponsorships was a point of contention with officials. Rizwan’s captaincy record in ODIs stands at 20 matches, with 9 wins and 11 losses. His time as captain included a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign and series defeats against New Zealand and the West Indies. Many fans and former players are questioning the basis and timing of his removal, interpreting it as another instance of internal politics influencing cricketing decisions. Shaheen Afridi now faces the demanding task of leading Pakistan’s ODI team through this transitional phase and bolstering team morale amidst ongoing questions surrounding the PCB’s administrative choices.
