PCB to Decide New ODI Captain in Joint Committee Meeting on October 20 Ahead of South Africa Series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that it has not yet chosen the captain for the national men’s team ahead of the upcoming home ODI series against South Africa. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson has requested a joint meeting between the Selection Committee and the Advisory Committee to make a final decision on who will lead the side in the series.

The PCB also said that Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has sent Hesson’s letter to the two committees, who are scheduled to meet on October 20. This meeting could result in the final decision on the team’s ODI captain. Sources close to the matter said that the talks about changing the ODI captain were linked to preparations for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 and were suggested by coach Hesson.

As a result, the committee has started consultations and has been in talks for several days with a potential candidate, who has asked for a guaranteed role until the 2027 World Cup and wants full freedom in decision-making.

Insiders say that former captain and star batsman Babar Azam, current T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and top fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi are in the running to take over as Pakistan’s ODI captain from wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, with Afridi considered the frontrunner. Pakistan is set to host South Africa in a three-match ODI series at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from November 4 to 8.

South Africa Tour of Pakistan 2025: Full Schedule 

South Africa Squads (T20I, ODI, Test)

South Africa T20I Squad

David Miller (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams.

South Africa ODI Squad

Matthew Breetzke (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile.

South Africa Test Squad

Aiden Markram (C), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne (WK)

Pakistan Squads (T20I, ODI, Test)

Pakistan ODI Squad: TBA

Pakistan T20I Squad: TBA

Pakistan Test Squad

Shan Masood (C), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afrid, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

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by IPL Web Desk October 18, 2025