The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to remove Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain has sparked backlash from former players, with Mohammad Amir openly questioning the board’s rationale.
In a video message posted on social media, Amir criticized both the timing and reasoning behind the move, calling it “unfair” to Rizwan and lacking strategic foresight.
“I don’t think Mohammad Rizwan has been treated fairly. He wasn’t a bad one-day captain. Rizwan led Pakistan to series wins in South Africa and Australia — something even some of our biggest captains couldn’t do,” Amir said.
The former left-arm pacer didn’t hold back, pointing to Pakistan cricket’s chronic instability in leadership as a deeper issue.
“Captaincy can’t depend on one good or bad series. Captains aren’t made overnight — it takes years. But here, one poor result is enough to remove someone. That’s not how you build stability,” he added.
Mohammad Amir also raised doubts about Shaheen Afridi’s readiness to take over the ODI reins from Mohammad Rizwan, especially given his recent battles with fitness concerns.
“If Shaheen had to be made captain, he could’ve first been appointed vice-captain and tested in that role,” Amir suggested.
Despite the criticism, the PCB appears confident in Shaheen’s leadership potential, even after sacking him as T20I captain following just one series in 2024.
Shaheen’s first assignment as ODI skipper will be the three-match home series against South Africa, scheduled from November 4 to 8 in Faisalabad.
With the spotlight firmly on him, Shaheen Afridi will not only be expected to deliver results but also restore the leadership stability that Pakistan cricket desperately needs.
