After leading Afghanistan to a successful four-year ODI campaign, veteran batter has stepped down, a new captain will be appointed ahead of the Ireland series.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has announced his resignation from the ODI team, ending a tenure that began in 2022 and witnessed some of the best moments in 50 over cricket for the team.
In a statement on social media, the 31-year-old said that it was a personal decision and expressed his gratitude to his teammates, coaches and the Afghanistan Cricket Board for their support while he was the captain.
Shahidi ends successful leadership stint
Shahidi led Afghanistan through one of the best runs in the ODI career of the team.
During his tenure, Afghanistan has made remarkable World Cup appearances in the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, having defeated England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands and lost a close match to the semi-final.
He also led the team in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, helping Afghanistan to become one of the fastest-growing teams in the world of cricket.
Personal decision to step aside
In his statement, Shahidi said it was an honour to lead his country and being the captain of Afghanistan was one of the greatest honour of his career.
He expressed his gratitude to his teammates for their dedication and support, stating that the team’s success was not just about the individual, but about the collective effort.
The veteran left-hander also thanked the coaching staff and the cricket board officials for their trust in him during his time.
Will continue playing for Afghanistan
Despite his resignation from the captaincy, Shahidi has confirmed that he is completely fit to play for Afghanistan in ODI cricket.
The hitter stated he will be available for the national team and would like to be a part of the team’s success in the future as a senior.
His transfer will have no effect on his international career, but only his leadership.
New captain to be named soon
The Afghanistan Cricket Board will likely be appointing a new ODI captain before they host Ireland in August for their five-match ODI series.
Richard Pybus was named head coach of Afghanistan just a few months ago after Jonathan Trott stepped down, thus ushering in a new era for the national team.
End of an important era
Shahidi’s leadership will be remembered for his ability to lead Afghanistan to success in a number of top cricketing nations and build the team’s reputation on the international stage.
With a new ODI captain in the saddle, Afghanistan will look to further improve on the good form of their previous captain Shahidi and continue their steady improvement in international cricket.
