Shaheen Rejects Rizwan Career Talk After Australia ODI Snub
Shaheen Shah Afridi said rizwan’s omission from Pakistan’s home ODI series against Australia does not mean the wicketkeeper batter’s international career is over. The Pakistan captain made the case at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium before the three-match series, pointing to his own return after being dropped and to Babar Azam’s comeback as proof that selections can change quickly.
“Just because Mohammad Rizwan is not part of this series does not mean his career is over. I was dropped once and came back. Babar was also out of the side and has returned,” Shaheen said. He added: “No player's career can be finished by you or by me. If someone is working hard and performing, then Allah will reward him with more opportunities.”
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium remarks
Shaheen used the squad call to explain Pakistan’s immediate plan. “You have to give opportunities to other players as well. Rohail and Ghazi are both talented cricketers, and if you want to prepare properly for a World Cup, then different players need to be tested,” he said. Rohail Nazir has replaced Rizwan in the squad, while Muhammad Ghazi Ghouri kept his place after debuting away against Bangladesh in March.
The message was a direct answer to the debate around Rizwan’s omission. Pakistan left him out after a poor away assignment against Bangladesh, where he made 54 runs at an average of 19.33. That selection call has stirred discussion because Rizwan had started his captaincy tenure in late 2024 with consecutive ODI series triumphs away over Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Pakistan’s captaincy shift
The broader backdrop is Shaheen’s own move into the role. He replaced Rizwan as Pakistan’s ODI captain after the side’s 2-1 series defeat against West Indies in August 2025, and that change now sits alongside a wider reset in the one-day squad. For Pakistan, the Australia series is not just about filling eleven spots; it is being used to look beyond established names.
Rizwan’s numbers still sit well above a simple exile narrative. He has 2979 runs in 94 ODI innings at an average of 40.80, which is why his absence carries more weight than a routine rotation call. The selection does not erase that record, but it does show Pakistan are willing to back younger options for a three-match home series that runs from May 30 to June 4 as they build toward the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
