Rahmat Shah Named Afghanistan's New Test and ODI Captain

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has appointed experienced middle-order batter Rahmat Shah as the national team's new Test and ODI captain, following the resignation of Hashmatullah Shahidi from the leadership role. The announcement was made on Wednesday, with the ACB expressing confidence that Rahmat's experience and leadership qualities will help guide the team through its next phase of international cricket. Wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been named vice-captain in both formats, and the new leadership duo will take charge during Afghanistan's upcoming series against Ireland.

Rahmat Shah has served as Afghanistan's vice-captain in both Test and One-Day International cricket since 2021 and is one of the team's most experienced players. In a statement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board said it believes his understanding of the squad and consistent performances make him well-suited to lead the national side. The board also expressed confidence that the new leadership group will continue Afghanistan's progress in international cricket and build on the foundations established in recent years.

Outgoing captain Hashmatullah Shahidi leaves the role after a successful tenure that began in May 2021. Under his captaincy, Afghanistan won 27 of 55 ODIs and recorded several historic achievements, including memorable victories over England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, where the team finished sixth. Shahidi also guided Afghanistan to qualification for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where the side registered a notable victory over England on its tournament debut and finished fifth overall. During his leadership, Afghanistan also achieved its highest-ever seventh position in the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings.

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Shahidi's tenure also included five consecutive ODI series victories between 2024 and 2025, with wins over Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh. Among those achievements was Afghanistan's first-ever bilateral ODI series triumph over South Africa, along with three successive series victories against Bangladesh. With Rahmat Shah now taking over the captaincy, Afghanistan will aim to build on those successes as it prepares for upcoming international assignments and continues its rise in world cricket.

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