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Rizwan as Pakistan ODI Captain: The decision to remove Rizwan from ODI captaincy after just one series has become a topic of discussion. After this, many questions have been raised on coach Mike Hesson and PCB.
21 October, 2025
Rizwan as Pakistan ODI Captain: Another big upset has been seen in Pakistan cricket. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday removed wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan from the ODI captaincy and announced Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new captain. This decision has come at the same time when the team is preparing to play a three-match ODI series against South Africa in Faisalabad in November. Now this change has created a stir in Pakistani cricket circles. It is believed that white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has made this change, even though he had worked with Rizwan only in one ODI series.
question on decision
Cricket analyst Omair Alavi raised questions on this decision and said that it is strange that Hesson formed an opinion on Rizwan’s captaincy after just one series. Rizwan’s win rate is 45 percent and he has won series in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Let us tell you that in his sports career so far, Rizwan has captained 20 ODI matches, out of which he won 9 and lost 11. However, during his captaincy, Pakistan had to face disappointment in the ICC Champions Trophy and apart from New Zealand, the team also had to face defeat in West Indies.
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Selection committee also included
According to reports, not only coach Hesson but also the selection committee and PCB’s advisory team were behind the removal of Rizwan. This includes names like Aaqib Javed, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Misbah-ul-Haq, who are part of the consultant team of Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Although the board has not given any official reason for this change, insiders say that Hesson’s recommendation has acted as a springboard.
dressing room speech
It is also being said that some players were feeling uncomfortable with Rizwan’s religious leanings and his religious speeches in the dressing room. His teammate Imam-ul-Haq believes that Rizwan organized religious sermons in hotels and advised players to offer namaz all five times a day. Well, this controversy reminds of the old chapter of Pakistan cricket when the board had expressed its displeasure over similar religious activities when Inzamam-ul-Haq was the captain (2004-2007). Meanwhile, Ahmed Shehzad also targeted Rizwan and said that he blames the team’s defeat on religion. Well, now it will be interesting to see whether Shaheen Shah Afridi’s new captaincy gives a new flight to the Pakistani cricket team or will this decision also be included in a chapter of cricket politics?
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