Shaheen Afridi on Pakistan ODI captaincy ahead of 2027 WC

Pakistan's pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi addressed questions about his future as Pakistan's ODI captain during a press conference held ahead of the National Champions Cup 2026. The tournament ran from August 11 to 18, with four teams contesting seven 50-over matches. Afridi will be captaining Pakistan Gold in the competition.

Speculations have emerged regarding Afridi's captaincy following reports that Babar Azam accepted the Test captaincy with assurances from selectors about a potential all-format role. Two selectors reportedly told Babar that strong performances in the upcoming two-Test series against West Indies and a three-Test tour of England would make him a candidate for the all-format captaincy. Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has predicted that Babar will captain Pakistan at the 2027 ODI World Cup.

What Shaheen said on his captaincy status

Contrary to the reports, the current ODI skipper of Pakistan gave a strong response.

"For now, I am the captain," Shaheen was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

Afridi has captained Pakistan in 11 ODIs since his appointment in October 2025, when he replaced Mohammad Rizwan. His record includes seven wins from those 11 matches. Pakistan recently won a series at home against Australia under his leadership.

The National Champions Cup held strategic importance for Pakistan's World Cup preparation. Afridi explained that the tournament would help build depth for the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Pakistan faces frequent injuries at World Cups, and the tournament pool would help identify replacement options if needed.

Building depth for the 2027 World Cup

Instead of focusing on the uncertainty over his position, Afridi shifted his attention to the National Champions Cup, scheduled from August 11 to 18 and featuring some of Pakistan’s top domestic players. The left-arm pacer believes the tournament could prove crucial in strengthening Pakistan’s squad depth ahead of the World Cup.

"This tournament will give everyone an opportunity to play according to their respective positions," Shaheen said.

"All the players will try to put in good performances. As I said, our focus is on the World Cup. Besides individual performances, the performances and fitness of other players will also be assessed," Afridi continued.