Mohammad Rizwan Captaincy: After the terrorist attack on Afghanistan, Pakistan is once again in the headlines, but this time for their cricket. It is reported that veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan’s ODI captaincy is now in jeopardy.
Shaheen Afridi, The New Pakistan ODI Skipper
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the national selection committee are scheduled to hold a crucial meeting in Lahore on Monday, where a decision on the ODI team’s captaincy could be made. This move is being considered the beginning of a major transition period in Pakistan cricket.
Multiple reports have claimed that Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy will be reviewed, with the left-arm pacer, Shaheen Afridi, emerging as the frontrunner for the role.
Mohammad Rizwan Captaincy: Head Coach Requested
In fact, Pakistan’s limited-overs coach, Mike Hesson, wrote a letter to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, demanding a serious discussion on the direction and leadership of the ODI team. This joint meeting was called following this request. According to an official PCB statement, no final decision has been made on the captaincy yet, but major decisions are expected at this meeting.
Currently, Pakistan has separate captains for all three formats. Shan Masood captains the Test team, Mohammad Rizwan leads the ODI team, and Salman Ali Agha leads the T20I team. However, questions about Rizwan’s captaincy began to arise after Pakistan recently lost the final of the tri-series against New Zealand at home and was also eliminated from the Champions Trophy 2025 in the early stages.
Mohammad Rizwan Statistics
Interestingly, Mohammad Rizwan’s individual performance remains impressive. He is Pakistan’s second-highest run-scorer in ODIs in 2025, scoring 361 runs at an average of over 36. Recently, in the Test series against South Africa, he played a key role in the team’s victory with a brilliant 75. Despite this, according to PCB insiders, the demand for new leadership within the team is growing. All eyes are now on Monday’s meeting, which will determine whether Rizwan’s captaincy will survive.
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