Rahmat Shah takes over Afghanistan Test and ODI captaincy after Shahidi steps down
Author: Vishnu Reddy
Updated At:
Rahmat Shah Zurmati has been appointed Afghanistan’s new Test and ODI captain after Hashmatullah Shahidi’s resignation, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz named vice-captain in both formats. The pair will begin their new roles during Afghanistan’s upcoming series against Ireland.
Shahidi had led Afghanistan since May 31, 2021, and started his tenure with a series victory over the Netherlands in January 2022. He finished with 27 wins from 55 ODIs, and Afghanistan made notable progress under his leadership.
Among the standout moments was the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, where Afghanistan beat England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands before finishing sixth.
That campaign took them to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where they made their first appearance in the event, beat England again and finished fifth overall. Afghanistan also reached seventh place in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, their highest-ever position in the format.
Historical Series Wins Against Top Nations
Between 2024 and 2025, Afghanistan won five consecutive ODI series against Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. The victory over South Africa was Afghanistan’s first bilateral series triumph against the Proteas.
Shahidi also oversaw three consecutive ODI series wins against Bangladesh, starting with an away success in 2023 before further series victories in the UAE in 2024 and 2025.
The ACB thanked Shahidi for his service, dedication and leadership, and wished him success in the next stage of his career. It said Rahmat had served as vice-captain in both Tests and ODIs since 2021 and pointed to his international experience and understanding of the team’s structure.
The board also said Gurbaz would support him as vice-captain, while Ibrahim Zadran remains Afghanistan’s T20I captain after taking over from Rashid Khan in March 2026.
READ NEXT
Hampshire sign Ashutosh Sharma for One-Day Cup
Hampshire have signed Indian power-hitter Ashutosh Sharma for the 2026 Metro Bank One-Day Cup ahead of their tournament opener against Yorkshire.
Pakistan set for five ODIs in England before 2027 World Cup
Pakistan will play a five-match ODI series in England in May 2027 to prepare for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. Check out the full schedule and details.