Afghanistan appoint Rahmat Shah as Captain for Test and ODIs after Hashmatullah Shahidi steps down

Rahmat Shah has been named as the new Afghanistan captain for Test and ODIs, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced on Wednesday (July 22).

Afghanistan batter Hashmatullah Shahidi has stepped down as the national team's ODI captain with immediate effect after four-and-a-half years in the role.

The 31-year-old led Afghanistan in 55 ODIs since January 2022, securing 27 wins, including notable upsets over England and Pakistan at the 2023 World Cup. He described the decision as personal while reaffirming his commitment to the team as a player.

And as Afghanistan prepare for their upcoming ODI series in Ireland, the ACB has named Rahmat Shah Zurmati as the new leader.

Hashmatullah Shahidi has left his role after 27 wins in 55 ODIs for Afghanistan, leading

the team to a historic 5th-place finish in the Champions Trophy last year. He also led them to five consecutive bilateral ODI series wins between 2024 and 2025, where they won against Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh (2) and Zimbabwe.

Rahmat Shah is expected to take over the role from the upcoming Ireland series. The 33-year-old has played 12 Tests and 128 ODIs for Afghanistan and has more than 5000 international runs to his name. Shah made his ODI debut in 2013 and has been a mainstay in the national team for over a decade.

The ACB is yet to name its squad for the Ireland series, which starts on August 5. The two nations will play a five-match ODI series which will conclude on August 15.