Hashmatullah Shahidi steps down as Afghanistan ODI captain after four-year stint

In a series of shocking events, Hashmatullah Shahidi has stepped down from Afghanistan ODI captaincy. The star player announced his decision to step down through an Instagram post, where he expressed gratitude towards everyone who supported him during his stint as a captain.

“After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as captain of our team. It has been a great honour to lead this team. I sincerely thank the management, coaches, my teammates, and our supporters for their trust and support throughout this journey," wrote Shahidi in the caption.

While continuing, the 31-year-old player confirmed that he will be continuing to represent Afghanistan as a player. Shahidi also wished continued success to the new captain and the team.

ALSO READ: BCCI CoE buzzing with injured India stars ahead of busy season

How Shahidi fared as Afghanistan ODI captain?

Shahidi happened to be the seventh player to lead Afghanistan in the ODI format, he captained the side in 55 games between 2022 and 2026, the second-highest tally for the country following Asghar Afghan's 59. Under his captaincy, Afghanistan claimed 27 wins, suffered 25 losses and three games finished without a result. Notably, he led Afghanistan in big ICC tournaments, consisting of 2023 Asia Cup, the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

His iconic finish came in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where Afghanistan almost grabbed the semi-final berth claiming big wins over England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, along with the Netherlands.

The recently concluded three-game ODI series in India turned out to be Shahidi's final assignment as captain, with Afghanistan enduring a shameful 3-0 loss. Despite the series loss, he managed to record his maiden ODI century in his 96th game, scoring 102 off 131 balls in Chennai.