“Rizwan Made Way for Me”: Shaheen Afridi Opens Up on Pakistan Captaincy Decision

Shaheen Afridi revealed that he became Pakistan’s ODI captain after discussing it with Mohammad Rizwan, who willingly stepped aside to support the decision.

Pakistan’s newly appointed ODI captain Shaheen Afridi has revealed that he accepted the leadership role only after discussing it with Mohammad Rizwan, who voluntarily stepped down. He shared that Rizwan was the only person he consulted before taking charge and that the wicketkeeper-batter assured him of complete support.

“Rizwan was the only person I had a discussion with. I asked him how he felt about me accepting the captaincy. Rizwan decided himself he would make way for me and that is how things worked out,” Afridi said.

Shaheen then emphasized his focus on teamwork and collective responsibility rather than depending solely on individual players like Babar Azam, Rizwan, or Fakhar Zaman. He noted that both Babar and Rizwan bring valuable experience to the side. Afridi also expressed confidence in their ability to deliver strong performances in upcoming matches. Shaheen then revealed that his priority is to help struggling players regain form and build a balanced, competitive unit ahead of future international assignments.

READ ALSO | Shreyas Iyer Unlikely to Be Fit for South Africa ODIs | Reports

While the Pakistan Cricket Board has not confirmed the tenure of his captaincy, Shaheen is preparing to lead Pakistan’s long-term plans, including building a strong core for the 2027 ODI World Cup.