Rizwan’s Captaincy Ends as Pakistan Eyes New ODI Leader

Pakistan Cricket Board is poised to announce a new ODI captain ahead of the upcoming three-match series against South Africa, ending Mohammad Rizwan’s brief and troubled tenure as white-ball skipper. The decision, expected to be finalized as early as Monday, follows months of speculation about leadership changes after Pakistan’s disastrous performances in major tournaments.

According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Saturday, “no decision has been made yet regarding the captaincy of the national team” for the series against South Africa. However, head coach Mike Hesson has formally written to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, recommending that a joint meeting of the Selection Committee and the Advisory Committee be convened to finalize the captain for the series.

The statement all but confirms Mohammad Rizwan’s removal as Pakistan ODI captain after leading the side to series wins in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa last year. The deliberate process involving multiple committees suggests the PCB views this leadership decision as crucial for Pakistan’s 2027 World Cup preparations.

The wicketkeeper-batter’s captaincy tenure, while starting promisingly with victories over Australia and South Africa on foreign soil, ultimately proved disappointing. Under Rizwan’s leadership, Pakistan played 21 ODIs, winning just 9 and posting a win percentage of 45%, significantly below expectations for a team with Pakistan’s talent.

Rizwan had disastrous outings in the ICC Champions Trophy earlier in 2025, with Pakistan failing to make it past the group stages despite hosting the tournament. This humiliation was followed by losing away series to New Zealand and the West Indies, further eroding confidence in his leadership capabilities.

Rizwan’s last ODI captaincy stint was in August against the West Indies, where the Caribbean side sealed a much-needed first ODI series win against Pakistan since 1991. This defeat proved particularly embarrassing given the West Indies had been swept aside 3-0 and 5-0 in Test and T20 series respectively by Australia earlier in the summer.

The Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly reviewed Rizwan’s performance closely after the Champions Trophy disappointment, with his captaincy and tactical decisions “not living up to expectations” according to internal assessments. The cumulative effect of these failures made leadership change inevitable.

As per ongoing speculations and unconfirmed reports circulating on different media and social media platforms, pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi is highly likely to replace Rizwan as Pakistan kick off their preparations for the 2027 World Cup with the South Africa series beginning November 4.

According to journalist Au Rangzab Younis, the PCB has already made plans to replace Rizwan, with Shaheen emerging as the frontrunner to take over the role. Despite leading Pakistan in five T20Is with a disappointing 1-4 record, Shaheen has never captained the national team in ODIs, making this a completely fresh start.

The Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB regime, since February 2024, has made wholesale changes to Pakistan’s leadership structure. It first removed Shaheen as T20I captain to bring back Babar Azam as white-ball skipper in the first half of 2024.

Shaheen was previously appointed T20I captain after Babar stepped down from captaincy in all formats following Pakistan’s disastrous campaign at the ODI World Cup 2023 in India. Later, Babar himself stepped down after Pakistan’s poor T20 World Cup performance, after which Mohammad Rizwan was given the reins of the white-ball team.

This revolving door of captains reflects deeper systemic issues within Pakistan cricket regarding leadership identification, player management, and long-term strategic planning.

Rizwan was also quietly removed from Pakistan’s T20I captaincy during this period, with Salman Ali Agha taking over the shortest format. This change occurred without formal announcement, suggesting the PCB preferred managing the transition discreetly to minimize controversy.

Rizwan led Pakistan as full-time T20I captain in just five completed matches, losing all of them—an unprecedented failure rate that made his position untenable despite his continued value as wicketkeeper-batsman.

Appointing Shaheen as Pakistan’s ODI captain would signal a strategic shift favoring building around a younger core rather than relying on long-standing incumbents. At 25 years old, Shaheen represents Pakistan’s future, with potential to lead the team through multiple World Cup cycles.

If the change is confirmed, Rizwan may see his role redefined, possibly retained as a senior player and first-choice wicketkeeper but without full leadership responsibilities. This arrangement would allow Pakistan to benefit from Rizwan’s batting and keeping skills while establishing fresh captaincy direction.

The three-match ODI series against South Africa is scheduled from November 4-8 in Faisalabad. Sources indicate that the PCB will announce the decision alongside the ODI squad for the upcoming home series, providing clarity on both leadership and team composition.

The timing allows the new captain minimal preparation time before the series, creating immediate pressure to perform and justify the PCB’s confidence in yet another leadership change.

For the incoming captain, whether Shaheen or another candidate, the challenges are significant: leading a team in transition while fan expectations remain high, managing senior players like Babar Azam who have previously held captaincy, and immediately producing results that justify another disruptive leadership change.

Also read this: Babar Azam’s T20I Return Uncertain Against South Africa

The new captain must also balance immediate series objectives with longer-term 2027 World Cup preparations, requiring strategic thinking about squad development and tactical evolution.

Pakistan stands at a crossroads in ODI cricket, with this leadership transition reflecting the board’s intent to reset at the top and pursue a long-term vision. Multiple captaincy changes in short succession indicate ongoing struggles to identify the right leadership formula.

For cricket fans across the country, the hope remains unchanged: strong, stable leadership, clarity of purpose, and a revitalized campaign that helps Pakistan reclaim its competitive edge on the global stage and rebuild credibility after recent tournament disappointments.

The Monday announcement will finally provide clarity on Pakistan’s ODI leadership direction as they embark on the crucial journey toward the 2027 World Cup hosted in Africa.

Keep conntected with us Facebook,Youtube and Twitter for latest Sports news happening around the globe.