Real reason behind Pakistan removing Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain
Mohammad Rizwan was recently removed as Pakistan’s ODI captain, with sources revealing the surprising reasons behind the decision. Reports suggest it involves sponsorship conflicts and other controversies affecting the team’s leadership structure.
On Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially named Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new captain of the Pakistan men’s ODI team, succeeding Mohammad Rizwan. The announcement marks a major leadership change ahead of the upcoming international season.
According to reports from TimesofIndia.com, Rizwan’s removal was not purely performance-related but stemmed from internal disagreements with the board. The wicketkeeper-batter reportedly declined to participate in promotional activities involving betting companies, which created tension with PCB officials.
Rizwan, known for his strong values and principles, has often taken a stand on moral and ethical grounds. His refusal to endorse betting brands is said to have played a decisive role in the leadership shift. With Afridi taking over, PCB is aiming for a fresh direction, while Rizwan’s decision continues to draw mixed reactions from fans and cricketing circles.
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Reason of Rizwan’s Captaincy Snub:
A PCB insider revealed to TimesofIndia.com,” Rizwan had informed the PCB that he wouldn’t endorse betting companies, which is the main reason behind his sacking. He was against the PCB’s collaboration with surrogate betting firms.”
Earlier in the year, during his stint with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Rizwan declined to endorse a betting company. He opted to play without the primary sponsor’s logo, which represented a gambling brand, choosing to stay true to his personal beliefs.
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif suggested that another possible reason behind Mohammad Rizwan’s removal as ODI captain could be his outspoken stance on the Palestine issue. Latif hinted that Rizwan’s strong public comments may have influenced the Pakistan Cricket Board’s final decision.
On his YouTube channel Rashid Latif said, “ If he has spoken about Palestine, will you remove him from captaincy? This mindset that there would be non-Islamic captains in an Islamic country is abysmal.”
Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named Pakistan’s ODI captain for the upcoming three-match series against South Africa, set to be held at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from November 4 to 8.
His appointment was confirmed after a key meeting in Islamabad that included white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Director of High Performance Aqib Javed, and several members of the selection committee. The decision reflects the board’s confidence in Shaheen’s leadership abilities as Pakistan looks to build momentum ahead of future international commitments.
Pakistan’s Leadership Puzzle Continues to Shift:
Since 2023, Pakistan cricket has seen constant captaincy reshuffles, with several players taking charge across formats under varying PCB regimes. The sequence began on March 13, 2023, when Shadab Khan was named skipper for the T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah during Najam Sethi’s tenure.
On November 15, 2023, Pakistan cricket underwent a major leadership change as Babar Azam resigned from captaincy across all formats. Under Zaka Ashraf’s administration, Shaheen Shah Afridi was appointed T20I captain, while Shan Masood was entrusted with leading the Test side, marking a new phase in Pakistan’s leadership transition.
On March 29, 2024, Pakistan’s captaincy saga continued as Shaheen Afridi was removed from his white-ball leadership role by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Two days later, Babar Azam was reinstated as T20I captain to guide the team in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
However, Babar’s comeback didn’t last long. On October 1, 2024, he stepped down once again from white-ball captaincy. Soon after, Mohammad Rizwan took over the role on October 27, 2024, under the same administration. This frequent change of leadership highlighted the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Pakistan cricket’s direction and stability.
The captaincy shuffle carried on into 2025, with Salman Ali Agha taking over as T20I captain on March 4, marking yet another leadership shift. Later, on October 20, 2025, Shaheen Shah Afridi reclaimed a leadership role, this time being appointed Pakistan’s ODI captain once again under Mohsin Naqvi’s administration.
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