Following the resignation of long-serving captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced a new leadership group for the national team’s Test and ODI sides.Veteran batter Rahmat Shah has been appointed as Afghanistan’s new Test and ODI captain, while wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz will serve as vice-captain in both formats. The duo will officially begin their leadership roles during Afghanistan’s upcoming series against Ireland.
Hashmatullah Shahidi’s successful captaincy
Shahidi’s tenure as captain began on May 31, 2021, and he enjoyed one of the most successful leadership spells in Afghanistan’s cricket history. He started his captaincy with an ODI series victory over the Netherlands in January 2022 and went on to lead Afghanistan to 27 wins in 55 ODIs.One of the biggest highlights of Shahidi’s captaincy came at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, where Afghanistan stunned several cricketing giants by defeating England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands to finish sixth in the tournament. That memorable campaign secured Afghanistan’s qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where the team made history on its tournament debut by defeating England and eventually finishing fifth overall.Under Shahidi’s leadership, Afghanistan also reached their highest-ever position of seventh in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, another landmark achievement for the nation.
Historic bilateral success under Shahidi
Afghanistan enjoyed unprecedented success in ODI cricket during Shahidi’s tenure. The team won five consecutive ODI series between 2024 and 2025 against Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. The series triumph over South Africa was particularly significant as it marked Afghanistan’s first-ever bilateral ODI series victory over the Proteas. Shahidi also guided Afghanistan to three successive ODI series wins over Bangladesh, beginning with an away triumph in 2023 before following it up with back-to-back series victories in the UAE in 2024 and 2025.In a statement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board thanked Shahidi for his outstanding service, dedication, and leadership, while wishing him success in the next phase of his career.Explaining Rahmat Shah’s appointment, the ACB highlighted that he has served as Afghanistan’s vice-captain in both Tests and ODIs since 2021. With vast international experience and a deep understanding of the team’s structure, the board believes he is well-equipped to lead Afghanistan into a new era. The board also expressed confidence that Rahmanullah Gurbaz, as vice-captain, will complement Rahmat’s leadership and help the team achieve further success.Meanwhile, Ibrahim Zadran continues as Afghanistan’s T20I captain after taking over the role from Rashid Khan in March 2026, meaning Afghanistan will now have separate captains across formats.
