Lahore, Oct 20 – Pakistan’s cricket board has renamed its one‑day team captain. The new skipper is left‑arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who will lead the side against South Africa from Nov 4‑8 at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the change after a meeting in Islamabad that included white‑ball coach Mike Hesson, high‑performance director Aqib Javed and selection committee members. “Shaheen’s appointment for the upcoming series was finalised today following a meeting,” the PCB said.
Shaheen, 25, is an experienced all‑rounder. He has taken 249 wickets in 66 ODIs and 92 T20Is, plus 120 wickets in 32 Tests. He has been a key bowler for Pakistan for years, and now gets to add captaincy to his responsibilities.
Wicket‑keeper Mohammad Rizwan steps aside after leading Pakistan to nine wins in 20 ODIs. Rizwan’s 45 % win rate earned him the role last month, but the team has shuffled captains a few times under Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Earlier in 2024, Shaheen was captain for a brief period before Babar Azam returned, and then Rizwan took over.
Changing the captain now comes as Pakistan tunes up for the 2027 World Cup. Giving Shaheen the helm in the 50‑over format shows the board’s confidence in his leadership and bowling skills.
With the South Africa series just weeks away, all eyes are on how fast bowler Shaheen will blend captaincy with his frontline bowling role. The decision could set the tone for Pakistan’s hunt for success on the international stage.
Source: ianslive
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