Shaheen Afridi finally opened up about becoming Pakistan’s new ODI captain. The star pacer replaced Mohammad Rizwan in this big leadership role. But here’s the interesting part – Rizwan himself stepped down willingly. Shaheen only accepted after having a long chat with his predecessor.
How the Captaincy Change Actually Happened
Shaheen didn’t just grab the captain’s armband and run away. He sat down with Rizwan first to discuss everything properly. Rizwan told him directly that he wanted to step aside. The former captain gave his full blessing for this transition.
“I took this responsibility from the Pakistan Cricket Board after discussing the matter with Rizwan,” Shaheen said.
Shaheen called Rizwan “a good human being” during his first press conference. He was the only person Shaheen consulted before saying yes. That shows how much respect exists between these two players.
“Rizwan was the only person I had a discussion with and 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,” he said.
Rizwan has been Pakistan’s best ODI batter since 2023 actually. He scored the most runs for the team during this period. But he still chose to give up captaincy for the team’s benefit.
Shaheen’s Leadership Plans Going Forward
The new captain has some clear ideas about leading Pakistan. He wants everyone working together rather than individual brilliance alone. Teamwork matters more than personal achievements, according to him.
Shaheen plans to lean on experienced players like Rizwan and Babar Azam. He won’t let his ego come between him and seeking good advice. Former captains will also be consulted whenever Pakistan faces tough situations.
His main target is the 2027 World Cup right now. Pakistan needs to build a strong squad for that tournament.
Learning From His T20 Captaincy Experience
Shaheen actually captained Pakistan’s T20 team before this appointment. That stint lasted less than six months unfortunately. Pakistan struggled badly during the 2023 World Cup under him.
He got replaced pretty quickly after those disappointing results came in. But Shaheen learned valuable lessons from that tough phase. Now he’s ready to apply those learnings in ODI cricket.
