Rahmat Shah Appointed Afghanistan’s New ODI and Test Captain Following Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Resignation
Mumbai: Experienced batter Rahmat Shah has been officially named the new captain of Afghanistan’s One Day International (ODI) and Test teams, following Hashmatullah Shahidi’s decision to step down from the leadership role. In addition to Rahmat’s elevation, dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been named vice-captain across both formats as Afghanistan enters a new era in its international cricket journey.
Rahmat brings a wealth of top-level experience to the captaincy, having represented his country in 128 ODIs and 12 Test matches since making his international debut back in 2013. Having previously served as Shahidi’s deputy during a landmark period for the national team, Rahmat’s deep understanding of the squad structure made him an immediate, seamless choice for the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Memorable Tenure Comes to a Close
Shahidi announced his decision to step down through a personal social media post on Wednesday. While the left-handed batter did not disclose specific reasons behind his resignation, he expressed gratitude and pride for his four-and-a-half-year reign as captain.
“Today I announce with full respect and consent that I am resigning as captain of my team at my personal decision. It was a great honour for me to perform this responsibility as a Captain. I am proud to have served alongside my team with honesty, unity and commitment. By the grace of Allah, with the efforts of the officials, coaches and players, we have achieved many victories, won important matches, defeated big teams and made the name of the team higher,” Shahidi shared in his statement.
Under Shahidi’s leadership, Afghanistan experienced some of its finest moments in international cricket. The team came remarkably close to reaching the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India after claiming memorable victories over former champions England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands. That standout performance also earned Afghanistan their historic first-ever qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
First Assignment: Ireland Series on August 5
The new leadership group will not have to wait long for their first competitive test. Rahmat Shah and vice-captain Rahmanullah Gurbaz will formally take charge starting August 5, when Afghanistan begins a five-match ODI series against Ireland. With a solid foundation laid over recent years, Rahmat’s primary objective will be ensuring continuity, building on the team’s tactical discipline, and steering Afghanistan toward further consistency on the global stage.
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