Shahidi Resigns as Afghanistan ODI Skipper
On Wednesday, Hashmatullah Shahidi of Afghanistan announced that he would be resigning from his role as the ODI captain with immediate effect. The 31-year-old batsman’s announcement on Instagram marked the conclusion of a significant chapter in the history of Afghan cricket.
Shahidi served as the team’s captain for 55 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) subsequent to his assumption of the position in January 2022. His final match was against India in June 2026.
Throughout his four-and-a-half-year tenure, the left-handed individual oversaw Afghanistan’s participation in three significant events. He served as the team’s captain during the 2023 World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy, and the 2023 Asia Cup.
Afghanistan emerged victorious in 27 of the 55 contests he commanded. The team narrowly missed out on the semi-finals and finished sixth at the 2023 World Cup.
However, they secured memorable victories over the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, England, and Pakistan. Afghanistan once again defeated England at the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai.
However, they were unable to advance to the semi-finals because their match against Australia was postponed due to rain. “I have decided to resign as the captain of our team after careful personal consideration.” It has been an immense privilege to serve as the leader of this team.
I am deeply grateful to the management, coaches, my comrades, and our supporters for their unwavering trust and encouragement during this endeavour. I am resigning from my position as captain, but I am still entirely dedicated to serving the team as a player.
I extend my best wishes to the new captain and the team for continued success on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
Why did Shahidi resign at this juncture?
The precise reasons for Shahidi’s departure were not specified in his public statement. He confirmed that he will remain available as a player for upcoming ODI assignments, while also leaving the door open for potential future team participation.
What is the future of Afghanistan’s Captaincy?
Afghanistan will embark on a five-match ODI series in Ireland in August. It is anticipated that this will be the team’s inaugural ODI campaign under a new captain. The Afghanistan Cricket Board must select and declare Shahidi’s replacement prior to the commencement of the tour. The events are scheduled to take place from August 5–14, 2026.
