Pakistan Cricket Board Replaces Rizwan with Afridi as ODI Captain

The Pakistan Cricket Board has made a striking change at the helm of the ODI team, removing Mohammad Rizwan and appointing Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new captain. This decision, announced on Monday evening, has quickly become a major talking point in Pakistan cricket. The appointment comes just under a year after Rizwan took over ODI captaincy from Babar Azam. Shaheen Afridi, who was previously removed from the T20I captaincy, now leads the side in the 50-over format, marking another significant leadership shift. The abruptness of this captaincy change has led to questions about the PCB’s consistent approach to team leadership. According to widespread reports, Pakistan’s white-ball coach, Mike Hesson, played a crucial role in advocating for Rizwan’s removal. His recommendation, purportedly backed by influential figures on the selection panel and advisory board, including Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed, and high-performance director Aaqib Javed, is cited as the primary driver. Internal meetings in Islamabad reportedly solidified Hesson’s proposal. Adding another layer to the situation, some reports suggest that Rizwan’s prominent religious activities within the team created discomfort among certain PCB officials. An unnamed source stated that concerns about the extent of religious discourse in team settings, which allegedly made some players feel uneasy, were a factor. However, an alternative narrative points to Rizwan’s ethical stance against endorsing betting companies as the root cause of his downfall. Reports indicate Rizwan informed PCB officials of his refusal to promote surrogate betting brands, leading to significant friction with sponsors. A PCB insider suggested that Rizwan’s opposition to betting company partnerships was not well-received by the board. Rizwan’s record as ODI captain includes 20 matches, with 9 wins and 11 losses, a tenure marked by mixed fortunes including a poor Champions Trophy showing and series losses. Nevertheless, many observers are questioning the timing and justification for his removal, viewing it as potentially politically motivated. Shaheen Afridi now faces the considerable challenge of leading Pakistan’s ODI squad through this period of transition and rebuilding team spirit amid heightened scrutiny of the PCB’s administrative decisions.