Tue Oct 21 04:33:30 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article:

Summary:

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new ODI captain, replacing Mohammad Rizwan after a brief and largely unsuccessful stint. This marks the third captaincy change in the format for Pakistan in the past year. Rizwan took over from Babar Azam in October but faced criticism after Pakistan’s poor performance in the Champions Trophy. Shaheen’s first assignment will be a three-match ODI series against South Africa in November. While Rizwan initially led the team to some victories, recent losses, including a series defeat to the West Indies, likely contributed to the decision. Shaheen has previously captained the T20I team, experiencing a series loss against New Zealand.

News Article:

Shaheen Afridi Appointed Pakistan’s ODI Captain, Rizwan Sacked

Islamabad – In another swift change to Pakistan’s cricketing leadership, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Monday that Shaheen Shah Afridi will take over as the captain of the ODI team, replacing Mohammad Rizwan. The decision comes just months after Rizwan was appointed captain following Babar Azam’s resignation last year, making this the third ODI captaincy change for Pakistan in the last 12 months.

The 25-year-old Afridi’s first challenge will be a three-match ODI series against South Africa, scheduled to be played in Faisalabad on November 4th, 6th, and 8th.

Rizwan’s tenure as captain was marked by mixed results. While he initially led the team to series victories against Australia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, Pakistan’s performance faltered this year, including a disappointing showing at the Champions Trophy where they finished at the bottom of their group. A recent series loss to the West Indies, their first in 34 years, further contributed to the change in leadership.

The decision to appoint Afridi was made following a meeting of the selection committee in Islamabad, which was also attended by Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, Mike Hesson.

Afridi previously captained Pakistan in five T20Is against New Zealand in January of last year, but was removed from the role after a 4-1 series defeat. It remains to be seen if he can find more success leading the ODI squad.

Read More