Who Will Be New Afghanistan ODI Captain? Top 3 Contenders Revealed

Hashmatullah Shahidi has resigned as Afghanistan ODI captain, ending a leadership spell that started in early 2022 and covered the team's journeys at the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. The development comes only a few months after Richard Pybus was appointed Afghanistan's head coach, replacing Jonathan Trott.

During Shahidi and Trott's time together, Afghanistan enjoyed one of its finest periods in ODI cricket, with famous wins against some of the best cricket teams, like England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands at the 2023 World Cup in India, where they came close to securing a semifinal berth.

The 31-year-old confirmed his decision in a statement shared on social media, explaining that stepping down was a personal decision. Although he has stepped down from the captaincy, Hasmatullah Shahidi made it clear that he remains available for ODI selection. Afghanistan are likely to appoint their next ODI captain ahead of the five-match ODI series against Ireland, which is scheduled to begin on August 5, 2026.

Top 3 Contenders to Become New Afghanistan ODI Captain

Afghanistan's ODI team is set to begin a new chapter after Hashmatullah Shahidi decided to step down from the captaincy. With the five-match ODI series against Ireland scheduled to begin on August 5, the Afghanistan Cricket Board is expected to announce a new captain soon. Among the available options, three players stand out because of their experience and consistent performances for the national side.

1. Ibrahim Zadran

Ibrahim Zadran has emerged as one of the leading contenders to succeed Hashmatullah Shahidi as Afghanistan's ODI captain. One of the best ODI batsmen in the world, Ibrahim Zadran has been one of the team's most dependable performers in the 50-over format, producing important runs in ICC tournaments as well as bilateral series.

2. Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is another major contender because of his extensive captaincy experience and huge influence within Afghanistan cricket. The star leg-spinner has previously captained the national side across all three formats and continues to lead the T20I team.

As one of Afghanistan's most successful cricketers, he enjoys tremendous respect inside the dressing room. Although workload management could play a role in the final decision, Rashid Khan remains one of the strongest options to lead Afghanistan in ODI cricket once again.

3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is also among the possible candidates despite having less captaincy experience at the international level. The attacking wicketkeeper-opener has established himself as one of Afghanistan's most dangerous batters in ODI cricket with his aggressive starts and match-winning knocks. His role behind the stumps also gives him a better view of the game and helps him understand match situations well.