Pakistan cricket has long struggled due to inconsistency - not just in performance, but also in leadership. In recent years, the team has seen a revolving door of captains across formats, including Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Shan Masood, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seems to believe that frequent changes in captaincy might spark improvement, but history suggests otherwise.
Constant reshuffling often disrupts team unity and confuses players about their roles. Building a successful side requires stability, trust, and a long-term vision - qualities that cannot flourish when leadership keeps changing. Instead of searching for quick fixes, the PCB should back a capable captain for an extended period, allowing him to shape strategy and culture. Only then can Pakistan cricket move from chaos to consistency and truly find the road to success.
Pakistan cricket has entered another new chapter with the appointment of Shaheen Shah Afridi as the ODI captain. The left-arm pacer, already a star in international cricket, now carries the added responsibility of leading the team in the 50-over format. It’s the third change in the format’s leadership within the past 12 months.
Afridi, who becomes Pakistan’s 32nd ODI captain, will lead the Green Shirts in the upcoming three-match series against South Africa, starting on November 4. He replaces wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who took charge of the 50-over side in October last year.
This will be Afridi’s second stint as national captain, having previously led Pakistan in five T20 Internationals against New Zealand in early 2024. That brief tenure ended after a 4-1 defeat, following which Babar Azam was reinstated as T20 skipper.
This decision comes amid Pakistan’s struggle for consistency, both in performance and leadership, following disappointing results in recent tournaments.
Many believe that Shaheen should be given the T20I captaincy instead of the ODI captaincy.
Having led Lahore Qalandars to back-to-back PSL titles, Shaheen has already proven his leadership credentials in franchise cricket. His attacking mindset and youthful enthusiasm could revive Pakistan’s fortunes on the international stage.
But despite a poor performance from Salman Ali Agha in the Asia Cup, both the selectors and the head coach want to retain Agha as captain until the World Cup next year.
The leadership change for the T20I team requires more attention than for the ODIs. Currently, the Green Shirts are ranked fifth in the ICC ODI rankings and seventh in the T20I rankings.
Shaheen’s appointment is being viewed with a mix of optimism and caution. Supporters see it as a bold and refreshing move. His aggression, passion, and ability to inspire teammates could inject much-needed energy into a side that has often lacked direction.
Since taking over as ODI captain last year, Mohammad Rizwan has been one of Pakistan’s most consistent performers, falling just four runs short of being the team’s top scorer, with an impressive average of nearly 42. Under his leadership, Pakistan secured series victories in Australia and South Africa in 2024. However, the team’s form has declined this year, highlighted by a disappointing first-round exit at the home Champions Trophy.
Rizwan assumed the white-ball captaincy after Babar stepped down in the aftermath of Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup campaign. The 33-year-old’s term began promisingly, steering Pakistan to a historic 2-1 series win in Australia-their first in 22 years-followed by a 3-0 sweep of South Africa at home and a 2-1 victory in Zimbabwe.
However, Pakistan’s fortunes dipped sharply in recent months. Under Rizwan, the team lost the home tri-series final to New Zealand, exited the Champions Trophy in the opening round and suffered a 2-1 series defeat in the West Indies, their first in the Caribbean in 34 years.
He concluded his ODI captaincy with nine wins and 11 losses from 20 matches, a 45% success rate.
The PCB, under Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, has made frequent leadership changes since early 2024. Afridi’s reappointment is believed to be influenced by Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who sees the 25-year-old left-armer as a long-term option leading into the 2027 World Cup.
Critics, meanwhile, point out that Pakistan’s habit of frequently changing captains across formats has hurt team stability. Over the past few years, leadership has rotated between Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Shan Masood, and now Shaheen Afridi. Such constant reshuffling, they argue, can breed uncertainty, lower morale, and obstruct long-term planning. Players thrive on role clarity and a shared sense of direction - both of which are difficult to maintain when leadership keeps shifting.
Pakistan now has separate captains for each format - Shan Masood leads the Test team, Shaheen Afridi captains the ODI side, while Salman Ali Agha, despite his underwhelming performance in the Asia Cup, continues to lead the T20I squad.
Ultimately, Shaheen’s success as captain will depend on how quickly he adapts to the pressures of international leadership and whether the Pakistan Cricket Board gives him consistent backing. A stable environment, clear communication, and trust from both management and players will be crucial.
Pakistan fans will hope that this change brings renewed focus and resilience rather than becoming another short-lived experiment. Only time will tell if Shaheen Shah Afridi’s leadership sparks a genuine turnaround or adds another name to Pakistan’s long list of captains.
Afridi, who has successfully captained Lahore Qalandars to two Pakistan Super League (PSL) titles, is widely regarded as a natural leader.
Newly-appointed Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi brings a wealth of experience and proven ability to his latest leadership role. The 25-year-old left-arm pacer has represented Pakistan in 66 One-Day Internationals and 92 T20 Internationals, claiming a combined 249 wickets. In 32 Test matches-excluding the ongoing second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi-Shaheen has taken 120 wickets.
Meanwhile, no changes have been made to the batting unit, with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan remaining out of favour in the shortest format. Both, however, will continue to feature in Pakistan’s ODI setup, as the team begins rebuilding towards the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup following a disappointing run - including a first-round exit from the Champions Trophy and a 3-0 series defeat in New Zealand.
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