Saira Imran The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a big decision. It removed Muhammad Rizwan from his position as ODI team captain. The PCB then appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new captain.
This move surprised many fans and cricket experts. Rizwan had taken over the role from Babar Azam only a short time ago. In another twist, the PCB had also recently removed Shaheen Afridi as captain of Pakistan’s T20 International team.
Rizwan’s removal has created a storm in Pakistan cricket. Former cricketer Rashid Latif blamed head coach Mike Hesson for the decision. According to him, Hesson removed Rizwan because he publicly supported Gaza and Palestine.
In a viral video, Rashid Latif said, “You removed him just because he held the Palestinian flag? Now there’s a mindset that a non-Muslim captain should lead a Muslim country.”
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Latif added that Hesson wanted to change the culture inside the team’s dressing room. Latif said that five or six people made this decision. He added that Rizwan brought religious traditions into the dressing room, which Hesson disliked.
Earlier this year, Rizwan announced that he would donate 100,000 Pakistani rupees to Palestinian aid for every six and wicket through his PSL team, Multan Sultans. In 2023, after Pakistan’s win against Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup, he dedicated the victory to his brothers and sisters in Palestine.
The PCB did not explain the reason behind Rizwan’s removal or mention his name directly. The board announced the decision after the selection committee and head coach Mike Hesson met in Islamabad.
Sources said that this move was expected because, last week, the PCB did not confirm Rizwan’s role as ODI captain in its statement. However, senior PCB officials supported the decision along with Hesson.
The situation has sparked strong reactions across social media, with many cricket fans showing support for Rizwan and questioning the board’s motives.
In short, Rizwan removed from captaincy has raised concerns about religious bias and internal politics within Pakistan cricket.
