Pakistan captain has long been synonymous with drama, both on and off the field. From stunning World Cup triumphs to heartbreaking collapses, the Men in Green have captivated fans worldwide.
But since November 2023, one aspect has dominated headlines more than batting collapses or bowling heroics: the relentless churn in captaincy.
What began as a post-World Cup resignation has spiraled into a game of musical chairs, with leadership roles swapped faster than a T20 over.
As of October 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has seen five different white-ball captains in under two years, while the Test side has enjoyed rare stability.
This article traces the whirlwind of changes, their triggers, and the broader implications for a team eyeing redemption at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
- The Spark: Babar Azam's Exit After a World Cup Heartbreak
- The Whiplash: Reinstatements, Resignations, and Rapid Rotations
- The Swap of Pakistan Captain
- A Timeline of Pakistan Captain
- The Latest Twist: Shaheen's ODI Return and Rizwan's Controversial Sacking
- Why the Chaos for Pakistan Captain ? PCB Politics Or Performance Pressures
- Looking Ahead: Stability or More Shuffle of Pakistan Captain ?
The Spark: Babar Azam’s Exit After a World Cup Heartbreak
The saga kicked off on November 15, 2023, mere days after Pakistan’s ignominious group-stage exit from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India.
Babar Azam, the elegant right-hander who had helmed all formats since 2020, tendered his resignation across the board.
Despite a respectable personal tally of 320 runs at an average of 40,
Babar’s leadership came under fire for the team’s fifth-place finish—marked by five losses in nine games and a slide from the top of the ODI rankings.
In his emotional statement, Babar cited the burden of multi-format duties and a desire to focus on his batting,
thanking fans for their support during a journey that included reaching No. 1 in white-ball formats.
The PCB wasted no time. That same day, they unveiled a dual-pronged leadership shake-up:
Shan Masood, the experienced opener, was appointed Test captain until the end of the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle, with his debut against Australia in December 2023.
Meanwhile, pace sensation 
Shaheen Shah Afridi, fresh off captaining Lahore Qalandars to back-to-back PSL titles, took the T20I reins.
No immediate ODI captain was named, as the format lay dormant for nearly a year.
This split reflected a PCB strategy under interim chief Zaka Ashraf to groom specialists amid internal flux.
The Whiplash: Reinstatements, Resignations, and Rapid Rotations
If Babar’s exit set the stage, the ensuing 18 months turned it into a farce.
Shaheen’s T20I stint lasted just one series—a 1-4 drubbing in New Zealand—prompting swift backlash.
By March 2024, under new PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Babar was dramatically reinstated as white-ball captain ahead of the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.
The move also lured back retirees Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, signaling a desperate bid for stability.
Yet, Pakistan’s World Cup campaign imploded with three straight group-stage losses, bowing out without a win against co-hosts USA, India, or Canada.
Babar resigned again in October 2024, his second exit in 11 months, amid mounting criticism over tactical rigidity and team disharmony.
The Swap of Pakistan Captain
Enter Mohammad Rizwan, the ultra-consistent wicketkeeper-batter, who assumed white-ball duties (ODI and T20I) in a press conference shrouded in speculation.
Rizwan’s tenure started brightly: a historic ODI series win in Australia—the first bilateral triumph Down Under in 22 years—followed by a victory over South Africa on their soil.
Fans hailed his calm demeanor and emphasis on domestic cricket.
But cracks soon appeared. A 3-0 ODI whitewash in New Zealand and a 2-1 loss to West Indies eroded confidence.
In March 2025 Salman Ali Agha appointed T20I Captain and led Pakistan to Asia Cup 2025 Final but lost all three games to India.
Rizwan also doubled as T20I captain briefly, but by March 2025, the PCB fragmented roles further: Salman Ali Agha, the versatile all-rounder, was installed as T20I skipper.
Agha’s side stumbled, losing the Asia Cup final and prompting calls for his ouster on social media.
Shan Masood, by contrast, has been a rock in Tests. Since November 2023, he’s led 12 matches, winning four and drawing three, including gritty draws in Australia.
His vice-captain, Saud Shakeel, was promoted in August 2024 for the Bangladesh series, underscoring a deliberate grooming process.
A Timeline of Pakistan Captain
| Date | Change Event | New Captain(s) | Format Affected | Trigger/Key Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2023 | Babar resigns all formats | Shan Masood (Test); Shaheen Afridi (T20I) | Test, T20I | WC 2023 exit |
| Mar 2024 | Shaheen removed; Babar reinstated | Babar Azam | ODI, T20I | Poor NZ T20I series |
| Oct 2024 | Babar resigns white-ball | Mohammad Rizwan | ODI, T20I | T20 WC 2024 flop |
| Mar 2025 | T20I split from ODI | Salman Ali Agha (T20I) | T20I | Asia Cup struggles |
| Oct 20, 2025 | Rizwan sacked as ODI captain | Shaheen Shah Afridi (ODI) | ODI | Refusal to endorse betting; mixed results |
The Latest Twist: Shaheen’s ODI Return and Rizwan’s Controversial Sacking
On October 20, 2025—just a day before this article’s deadline—the PCB dropped another bombshell: Mohammad Rizwan was axed as ODI captain,
with Shaheen Shah Afridi stepping in for the upcoming three-match series against South Africa in Faisalabad (November 4-8).
The decision followed a heated selection committee meeting with white-ball coach Mike Hesson and high-performance director Aqib Javed.
Reports paint a scandalous picture: Rizwan’s ouster stems from his refusal to promote betting companies, clashing with PCB’s commercial deals—a stance rooted in his devout faith.
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif decried it as “ideological bias,” while social media erupted in support for Rizwan, with fans decrying the PCB’s priorities.
Shaheen, entering his third white-ball stint in two years, brings fresh momentum: he’s Pakistan’s top ODI wicket-taker since the 2023 World Cup with 45 scalps at over two per match.
Salman Agha retains T20I duties, and Shan Masood holds Test fort— for now.
Why the Chaos for Pakistan Captain ? PCB Politics Or Performance Pressures
At its core, Pakistan captain merry-go-round mirrors deeper malaise.
Frequent PCB leadership transitions— from Najam Sethi to Zaka Ashraf to Mohsin Naqvi—have bred inconsistency, with each regime imprinting its vision.
Naqvi’s era alone has seen three white-ball captains, often tied to short-term results rather than long-term vision.
Critics point to favoritism, with insiders like Aqib Javed wielding outsized influence.
Performance hasn’t helped. Post-2023 WC, Pakistan’s white-ball record reads: 12 wins in 30 ODIs (40% win rate) and 18 in 35 T20Is (51%).
Tactical missteps, like over-reliance on seniors or poor overseas adaptation, amplify scrutiny.
Yet, as Michael Atherton noted in a broader critique, knee-jerk changes rarely yield stability.
On the flip side, proponents argue rotation builds depth—Shan Masood’s Test success (four wins in 12) validates this in reds.
Looking Ahead: Stability or More Shuffle of Pakistan Captain ?
As Shaheen prepares for his ODI bow in Faisalabad, questions loom.
Will his pace and PSL-honed tactics revive the 50-over side ?
Can Agha steady T20Is ahead of South Africa on October 28 ?
And with the 2026 T20 World Cup on the horizon (co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka), does Pakistan risk another pre-tournament purge ?
Pakistan’s rich cricketing legacy—from Imran Khan’s 1992 miracle to Sarfaraz Ahmed’s 2017 Champions Trophy—demands better.
The captaincy chaos since November 2023 isn’t just administrative folly; it’s a symptom of a system adrift.
For the boys in green to reclaim glory, the PCB must trade the carousel for a compass.
Only then can Shaheen, or whoever wears the armband next, lead without looking over their shoulder.
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