Afghanistan batter Hashmatullah Shahidi has stepped down as captain of the national one-day international (ODI) team, concluding a leadership period that began in early 2022, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on July 22.
The 31-year-old announced his resignation in a social media post, marking the end of a tenure during which he captained Afghanistan in two major ICC events: the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
During Shahidi’s captaincy, Afghanistan achieved significant milestones in ODI cricket. At the 2023 World Cup held in India, the team recorded notable victories over England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands, narrowly missing progression to the knockout stage after a strong campaign.
Shahidi also led the side at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, overseeing a period of steady advancement in international cricket, according to the ICC.
The left-handed batter did not disclose the reason for his decision in his resignation statement published on social media.
“Today I announce with full respect and consent that I am resigning as captain of my team at my personal decision. It was a great honor for me to perform this responsibility as a Captain. I am proud to have served alongside my team with honesty, unity and commitment. By the grace of Allah, with the efforts of the officials, coaches and players, we have achieved many victories, won important matches, defeated big teams and made the name of the team higher,” Shahidi said, as quoted by the ICC.
“All these achievements are not just mine, but also the result of the teamwork, sacrifices and coordination of the entire team. I thank all the players of my team from the bottom of my heart who always supported me and stood shoulder to shoulder with me in every victory and every challenge.”
“I also thank the officials and the administration of the team who believed in me and always supported me. Your trust and cooperation will always be an honour for me,” he added, as cited by the ICC.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has not yet announced Shahidi’s replacement as ODI captain.