Rahmat Shah, the 29-year-old experienced batter, is set to take over as captain of Afghanistan's Test and ODI teams during the upcoming match against Ireland. This change follows the resignation of Hashmatullah Shahidi, who had been at the helm for over two years and led the team through a period of remarkable success.
Shahidi's Legacy
Hashmatullah Shahidi's captaincy, which began on May 31, 2021, has been regarded as one of the most successful in Afghanistan's cricketing history. Under his leadership, the team won 27 of their 55 ODIs and played in one of the most unforgettable campaigns during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.
During the World Cup, Afghanistan stunned cricketing powerhouses by defeating teams like England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands to finish in sixth place. This result was crucial as it secured the nation's qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. In that tournament, which Afghanistan played for the first time, the team stunned fans by defeating England and concluded the event in fifth place.
Shahidi's guidance also helped Afghanistan reach their highest-ever ODI team ranking of seventh in the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings, a significant milestone. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) commended Shahidi's contributions and leadership and expressed their wish for success in his next endeavors.
Rahmat Shah, who previously held the role of vice-captain since 2021, now becomes the official captain. His leadership will be supported by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who has been appointed as vice-captain in both formats. The ACB believes Rahmat Shah is well-prepared for the challenge and expects Gurbaz to play a key role in assisting him to achieve further accomplishments.
Format-Specific Leadership
Ibrahim Zadran remains in charge of the T20I team, having taken over the role from Rashid Khan in March 2026. This arrangement now means Afghanistan will have three distinct captains across the three international formats for the first time in the nation's cricketing history.
During Shahidi's tenure, Afghanistan experienced a surge in bilateral success in ODI cricket. Notably, the series victory over South Africa marked Afghanistan's first bilateral triumph against the Proteas.
Shahidi also guided the team to a series of back-to-back ODI series wins over Bangladesh. Beginning with an away triumph in 2023, Afghanistan followed up with consecutive victories in the UAE in 2024 and 2025. These results solidified Afghanistan's reputation as a formidable cricketing force under his captaincy.
The ACB emphasized Rahmat Shah's extensive international experience and deep knowledge of team dynamics, making him an ideal choice to lead Afghanistan into a new era. They are also confident that Rahmanullah Gurbaz, with his leadership skills, will play a key role in supporting the captain and driving the team forward.
With separate leadership for each format now in place, the ACB aims to maintain and build upon the momentum gained during Shahidi's successful captaincy. As the team looks ahead to new challenges and opportunities, the board and fans alike are optimistic about Afghanistan's cricketing future.