Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammed Amir has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board before removing Muhammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s ODI captain and appointing a left-arm speedster Shaheen Afridi in place. The PCB announced the decision on Monday, a move that sparked widespread debate among cricket circles and fans.
Mohammad Amir lashes out at PCB after Mohammad Rizwan’s dismissal
According to Amir, Rizwan’s removal reflects Pakistan’s long-standing problem with inconsistency in leadership decisions. He argued that Rizwan had performed well enough to retain his position and did not deserve to be dropped after a few disappointing results. In an interview with Geo Super, Amir expressed his disappointment and said Rizwan had shown tactical insight and composure in difficult situations.
“I don’t think Mohammad Rizwan was treated fairly. Rizwan was not a bad one-day captain. He led Pakistan to series wins in South Africa and Australia, something even some of our greatest captains could not achieve. We should not have forgotten that,” he said. Amir said.
Rizwan’s tenure as captain started with encouraging success, including Pakistan’s back-to-back victories in the ODI series against Australia And South Africa on distant land – feats rarely achieved by previous captains. However, after Pakistan’s untimely exit from the Champions Trophy and subsequent defeats against New Zealand And West Indiesthe PCB opted for a change, signaling Afridi’s elevation as a step towards long-term planning. However, Amir questioned the logic behind this abrupt move, saying the board had overreacted to short-term failures rather than assessing overall progress under Rizwan’s captaincy.
Also READ: PCB sacks Mohammad Rizwan and appoints Shaheen Afridi as Pakistan’s new ODI captain
Amir calls for stability and a structured leadership approach
Amir also elaborated on the need for a consistent approach in team management, warning that frequent changes of captains could damage the dressing room environment. He said leadership in international cricket is built through consistent trust, communication and planning, rather than impulsive decisions based on temporary results.
“Captaincy should not depend on just one good or bad series. We are all responsible for these former cricketers and analysts. We do not allow stability in our cricket. Captains are not made overnight; it takes two to three years to build one. But here one bad series is enough to replace a captain. I don’t think this is the right choice. Rizwan is a smart captain and has the gift for leadership.” the former pacer added.
Discussing Afridi’s appointment, Amir acknowledged the pacer’s potential but wondered if this was the right time to hand over the ODI reins to him. He suggested that the PCB could have experimented with a gradual transition by first appointing Afridi vice-captain. This would have allowed management to evaluate his leadership under less pressure, while giving Rizwan time to regain his form and confidence ahead of the next big assignment. He also expressed concerns over Afridi’s workload, recalling that the young pacer has had to deal with repeated injuries and may need to focus on balancing fitness alongside leadership responsibilities.
“If Shaheen should have been appointed captain, he could have been appointed vice-captain first and his performance assessed accordingly – especially given his suitability.” Amir concluded.
Shaheen, who was captain earlier Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistani Super League and briefly led Pakistan in T20Is, brings some leadership experience but remains relatively new to the format of over-50s cricket. The cricket experts believe his appointment signals the PCB’s attempt to groom a long-term captain World Cup 2027. But as Amir emphasized, for Afridi to succeed, the administration must provide stability and sustained support, something Rizwan was arguably denied.
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