Leadership Transition in Afghanistan Cricket
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced a new leadership structure for the national team’s Test and ODI squads following the resignation of long-serving captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. Veteran batter Rahmat Shah has been appointed as the new Test and ODI captain. Additionally, wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz will serve as vice-captain for both formats. This new leadership duo is set to begin their roles during Afghanistan‘s upcoming series against Ireland.
Hashmatullah Shahidi‘s tenure as captain, which began on May 31, 2021, concludes after a period marked by significant achievements for Afghanistan cricket. He led the ODI side since early 2022, including at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Shahidi’s captaincy saw the team secure 27 victories in 55 ODI matches.
Shahidi expressed his decision to resign as captain through social media, stating it was a personal choice. He affirmed his commitment to continue playing for the ODI setup. The ACB acknowledged Shahidi’s contributions, thanking him for his dedication and leadership.
Shahidi’s Successful Captaincy Era
Under Hashmatullah Shahidi‘s leadership, Afghanistan achieved notable success in international cricket. His captaincy began with an ODI series victory over the Netherlands in January 2022. A significant highlight was the team’s performance at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, where Afghanistan secured victories against prominent cricketing nations such as England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands. This strong showing led to their qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
At the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Afghanistan made history by defeating England and ultimately finishing fifth in the tournament during their debut appearance. During Shahidi’s captaincy, the team also reached its highest-ever position of seventh in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, marking another milestone for the nation.
The period also saw Afghanistan achieve unprecedented success in bilateral ODI series. The team secured five consecutive ODI series wins between 2024 and 2025, triumphing over teams like Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe. The series victory against South Africa was particularly significant, marking Afghanistan‘s first-ever bilateral ODI series win against the Proteas.
Furthermore, Shahidi guided Afghanistan to three successive ODI series victories over Bangladesh. This included an away triumph in 2023, followed by back-to-back series wins in the UAE in 2024 and 2025. These achievements underscore the impact of Shahidi’s leadership on the team’s performance and standing in international cricket.
New Leadership and Future Outlook
The appointment of Rahmat Shah as the new Test and ODI captain is based on his extensive experience and understanding of the team’s dynamics. The ACB highlighted that Shah has served as Afghanistan‘s vice-captain in both Tests and ODIs since 2021. The board believes his vast international experience makes him well-suited to lead the team into a new phase.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, as vice-captain, is expected to complement Shah’s leadership and contribute to the team’s continued success. This new leadership structure signifies a strategic move by the ACB to maintain momentum and build upon the foundations laid by the previous captaincy.
With these changes, Afghanistan will now have separate captains across formats, as Ibrahim Zadran continues in his role as T20I captain, a position he assumed from Rashid Khan in March 2026. The new leadership will officially commence their duties during the upcoming series against Ireland.
Source: icc-cricket.com
