The decision was made during an important PCB meeting in Islamabad attended by Head Coach Mike Hesson, High-Performance Director Aqib Javed, and members of the selection committee.

Shaheen Afridi will lead the Pakistan team in the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa. The matches will be played from November 4 to 8 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.

The left-arm pacer has already represented Pakistan in 66 ODIs and 92 T20 Internationals, taking a total of 249 wickets. In 32 Test matches, he has also claimed 120 wickets.

Shaheen Afridi previously captained Pakistan in a five-match T20 series against New Zealand in 2024 on their home soil.

Read more: Mohammad Rizwan’s ODI captaincy in danger - will Shaheen Afridi take charge?

Mohammad Rizwan last led the national side in August 2025 during the West Indies series, where Pakistan suffered its first ODI series loss to the Caribbean side since 1991.

PCB’s decision to hand over ODI captaincy to Shaheen Afridi signals a shift towards fresh leadership in Pakistan cricket. After the team’s mixed performances under Rizwan, the board appears to be banking on Shaheen’s aggression and consistency to rebuild momentum. With the South Africa series approaching, all eyes will be on whether Shaheen can bring back Pakistan’s fighting spirit and stability to its ODI setup.