Rahmat Shah to lead Afghanistan in Tests and ODIs, Gurbaz becomes vice-captain
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Wednesday appointed experienced batter Rahmat Shah as the national team’s new Test and One-Day International (ODI) captain following the resignation of Hashmatullah Shahidi.
The board also named wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz as vice-captain in both formats. Rahmat and Gurbaz will officially begin their new roles during Afghanistan’s upcoming ODI series against Ireland.
Shahidi’s resignation brings an end to a successful four-year stint during which Afghanistan achieved some of the biggest milestones in its cricket history.
According to the ACB, Shahidi was appointed captain on May 31, 2021, and began his tenure with an ODI series victory over the Netherlands in January 2022. Under his leadership, Afghanistan won 27 of the 55 ODIs they played.
The defining moment of Shahidi’s captaincy came at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Afghanistan produced one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by defeating England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands to finish sixth in the standings, their best-ever World Cup campaign.
The World Cup performance also secured Afghanistan’s qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Making their debut in the tournament, Afghanistan defeated England and finished fifth overall, further underlining the team’s rapid progress on the international stage.
Shahidi also led Afghanistan to their highest-ever seventh position in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings during his tenure.
Rahmat Shah takes over after serving as Afghanistan’s vice-captain in both Tests and ODIs since May 31, 2021, when Shahidi was appointed captain. One of the country’s most experienced batters, Rahmat has been a key member of Afghanistan’s middle order across formats and now assumes the leadership role ahead of a busy international calendar.
Alongside Rahmat, Gurbaz has been entrusted with the vice-captaincy in both formats. The aggressive top-order batter has established himself as one of Afghanistan’s leading white-ball players and will support the new captain as the team enters a new phase.
Afghanistan’s first assignment under the new leadership group will be a five-match ODI series against Ireland, scheduled to be played from August 5 to 15.
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