Hashmatullah Shahidi Steps Down as Afghanistan ODI Captain After Three-and-a-Half Years

Kabul, July 2026: Afghanistan’s top-order batter Hashmatullah Shahidi has resigned as captain of the national ODI team with immediate effect, ending a leadership tenure that witnessed some of the country’s most memorable achievements in one-day cricket.

Shahidi, who was appointed ODI captain in January 2022, led Afghanistan in 55 One-Day Internationals. His final assignment as skipper came during the recently concluded three-match ODI series against India, where Afghanistan suffered a 3-0 defeat.

Announcing his decision through a post on Instagram, Shahidi expressed gratitude to everyone associated with the team.

“After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as captain of our team. It has been a great honour to lead this team. I sincerely thank the management, coaches, my teammates and our supporters for their trust and support throughout this journey,” he wrote.

The 30-year-old added that although he was relinquishing the captaincy, he remained fully committed to representing Afghanistan as a player and wished the incoming captain every success.

Under Shahidi’s leadership, Afghanistan established itself as a formidable force in ODI cricket. His most significant achievement came during the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup in India, where Afghanistan produced a series of stunning performances to finish sixth in the standings, narrowly missing out on a place in the semi-finals.

The team registered memorable victories against former champions England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands, earning widespread praise for their fearless brand of cricket. Their impressive World Cup campaign also secured Afghanistan’s maiden qualification for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

At the Champions Trophy, Afghanistan continued to make an impact by defeating England once again. However, a rain-affected washout against Australia denied them a place in the semi-finals.

Beyond ICC tournaments, Shahidi guided Afghanistan to several notable bilateral series victories, including three ODI series wins against Bangladesh, two against Zimbabwe, and triumphs over South Africa and Ireland. Overall, Afghanistan won 27 of the 55 ODIs played under his captaincy.

Shahidi also signed off as captain with a memorable personal milestone, scoring his only ODI century in his final match as skipper. He struck a composed 102 off 131 deliveries against India in Chennai.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is expected to announce a new ODI captain before the team departs for its tour of Ireland in August, where Afghanistan will play a five-match ODI series.

Team Maverick.