Pakistan: Shaheen Afridi addresses ODI captaincy reports amid Babar Azam speculation

By Arjun Nair / 11.08.2026

By Arjun Nair — 11 August 2026 — 4 min read

Shaheen Shah Afridi, the current Pakistan ODI captain, has addressed ongoing speculation regarding his leadership role, stating, “For now, I am the captain.” These comments come amidst reports suggesting that former captain Babar Azam could potentially return to lead the team across all formats.

Afridi’s remarks were made during a press conference with the captains of the National Champions Cup teams. When questioned about whether the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had confirmed his continuation as captain through the 2027 World Cup, Afridi reiterated his current position.

Focus on World Cup Preparations

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his captaincy, Afridi has shifted his focus to the upcoming National Champions Cup, a domestic tournament running from August 11 to 18. This competition features leading domestic players from Pakistan.

The left-arm pacer believes the tournament is crucial for developing the squad depth necessary for the upcoming World Cup. He highlighted the importance of having a robust pool of players to mitigate the impact of potential injuries, a frequent challenge for Pakistan before major tournaments.

Afridi emphasised that the tournament provides an opportunity for all players to perform in their preferred roles. He also noted that performances and fitness levels observed during the competition would be key factors in Pakistan’s World Cup planning. Both individual contributions and the overall fitness of players will be assessed.

“All the players will try to put in good performances. As I said, our focus is on the World Cup. Besides individual performances, the performances and fitness of other players will also be assessed,” Afridi stated.

Captaincy Landscape and Recent Changes

Afridi was appointed as Pakistan’s ODI captain in October 2025, taking over from Mohammad Rizwan. His appointment followed a period where Pakistan’s leadership structure remained unsettled, with frequent changes in captaincy in recent years. Under Rizwan’s captaincy, Pakistan experienced an early exit from the Champions Trophy and a series defeat against the West Indies, marking their first such loss to the Caribbean side in 24 years.

Reports have indicated that the PCB might eventually appoint Babar as an all-format captain, though no official confirmation has been made. According to one report, Telecom Asia Sport suggested that the PCB had promised Babar the captaincy across all three formats, and after reinstating him as Test captain, they are now considering him for the ODI team as well.

However, selector Misbah-ul-Haq has reportedly rejected claims of Babar’s return to white-ball captaincy, stating that no such plan is in motion and the issue has not been raised within the Pakistan camp. Misbah clarified that discussions about Babar becoming Pakistan’s white-ball captain have not occurred and that such reports are merely rumours.

Babar had previously led Pakistan in all three formats before stepping down from captaincy in 2024. His return as Test captain in July, replacing Shan Masood, sparked renewed speculation about his broader leadership role. Masood’s captaincy period saw 12 losses in 16 Tests. Babar’s recent Test captaincy stint included leading Pakistan to a 1-1 draw in a two-Test series against the West Indies, securing an eight-wicket victory in the second Test, which marked Pakistan’s first away Test win in over three years.

Upcoming Schedule and Future Outlook

Pakistan faces a demanding schedule leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup. This includes participation in tri-series commitments and a five-match series in England. The upcoming domestic competition, the National Champions Cup, offers selectors an additional opportunity to assess the available talent pool and identify potential replacements in case of injuries.

While Afridi remains the ODI captain for now, the lack of a fixed tenure for his appointment and the frequent leadership changes within Pakistan cricket contribute to the ongoing uncertainty. There were expectations that Afridi would continue as ODI captain until the 2027 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

The situation with the ODI team’s leadership remains unclear, as no end date for Afridi’s tenure has been announced, nor has there been any indication of when Babar might conclude his role as Test captain. With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, clarity on the leadership structure will be crucial for Pakistan.

Pakistan is expected to play a home tri-series involving Sri Lanka and England, followed by another tri-series featuring Zimbabwe and Ireland, likely to be held in Zimbabwe, as part of their World Cup preparations.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com