Rawalpindi, May 29, 2026: Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi on Friday dismissed speculation that wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan had reached the end of his international career after being left out of Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming home ODI series against Australia.
Speaking at a pre-series press conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Shaheen said Rizwan’s exclusion from the squad was part of a broader strategy to test new players ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
“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 Azam was also out of the side and has returned,” Shaheen told reporters.
Shaheen, who replaced Rizwan as Pakistan’s ODI captain following the team’s 2-1 series defeat against the West Indies in August 2025, said the management wanted to provide opportunities to emerging players such as Rohail Nazir and Muhammad Ghazi Ghouri.
“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.
“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,” the Pakistan skipper added.
Former captain Rizwan, who previously led Pakistan to ODI series victories in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa after taking over the captaincy in late 2024, lost his place in the side following an underwhelming tour of Bangladesh earlier this year.
During the series, Rizwan scored 54 runs in three innings at an average of 19.33.
The 33-year-old wicketkeeper batter was replaced in the squad by Rohail Nazir for the three-match ODI series against Australia scheduled from May 30 to June 4, while Ghouri retained his place after making his ODI debut during the Bangladesh tour in March.
Rizwan’s omission came shortly after reports suggested that Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson was considering a new direction for Pakistan’s white-ball cricket setup and was not in favour of Rizwan’s continued inclusion in the ODI side ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
The decision has sparked debate among cricket fans, with some criticizing the move and questioning Rizwan’s exclusion despite his strong ODI record.
Rizwan has scored 2,979 runs in 94 ODI innings at an average of 40.80 for Pakistan.
