Rizwan’s ODI Captaincy in Doubt as PCB Yet to Finalise Leader for South Africa Series

Mohammad Rizwan's future as Pakistan's ODI captain hangs in the balance after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that a decision on the leadership for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa has yet to be finalised. In a statement released on Saturday, the PCB said white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has called for a meeting of the selection committee on Monday to determine the captaincy.

The statement notably did not mention Rizwan, who was appointed captain last year and led Pakistan to ODI series wins in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. However, a dip in overall team performance in 2025—marked by a tri-series final loss at home to New Zealand, an early Champions Trophy exit, and a series defeat in the West Indies—has seemingly triggered uncertainty over his role.

Despite the team’s struggles, Rizwan’s personal form has remained strong. He is Pakistan’s second-highest ODI run-scorer this year, having amassed 361 runs at an average above 36. His performances in the longer format have also been noteworthy, including a crucial 75-run knock in an ongoing Test series against South Africa, forming a 163-run stand with Salman Ali Agha.

There has been no official communication from the PCB indicating that Rizwan has been removed, but the nature of the announcement—mirroring recent captaincy changes—suggests his position is under serious review.

The current situation draws parallels with the removal of Shaheen Shah Afridi as T20I captain earlier this year. Afridi had led Pakistan in just one T20I series before PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi publicly declined to confirm his future in the role. Afridi was subsequently replaced by Babar Azam, and controversy followed when the PCB released a statement on Afridi’s behalf, which he later claimed he had not approved.

Although Mike Hesson, the white-ball head coach, does not formally have a vote on captaincy appointments, his recommendation for the committee meeting points to either his growing influence within the PCB or an already brewing intent by the board to reconsider Rizwan’s leadership.

Naqvi, during Shaheen's removal earlier this year, had stressed the importance of stability and long-term planning in leadership appointments. "We want a long-term solution, whether it's Shaheen or a new man. And then we intend to stick by that man, instead of just changing a captain because you lose a match," he said at the time.

Now, with Rizwan facing similar scrutiny, the selection committee's decision on Monday will likely determine not just the captain for the South Africa series, but potentially shape the white-ball leadership going into the 2027 World Cup cycle.

A final decision is expected following Monday’s meeting. Until then, Rizwan’s captaincy status remains officially undecided—though increasingly uncertain.