New Delhi, July 22: The Afghanistan cricket team has encountered a significant setback. Hashmatullah Shahidi has announced his resignation from the ODI captaincy. He had been leading the team in the 50-over format since 2022.

Shahidi last captained the team against India. Under his leadership, Afghanistan participated in the Asia Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup. Additionally, the team also qualified for the 2025 Champions Trophy during his tenure. Shahidi’s captaincy saw Afghanistan secure victories in 27 matches.

In a heartfelt message on his Instagram, Shahidi stated, “Today, I announce with full respect and my own will that I am resigning from my position as captain of the team. It has been an honor to fulfill this responsibility. I take pride in having worked with my team with integrity, unity, and dedication. With Allah’s grace and the efforts of officials, coaches, and players, we achieved many victories, won crucial matches, defeated major teams, and brought glory to our team.”

He continued, “These achievements are not solely mine but the result of the hard work, sacrifice, and teamwork of the entire squad. I sincerely thank all the players who have always supported me and stood shoulder to shoulder with me through every victory and challenge. I also express my gratitude to the team officials and management for their trust and unwavering support. Your trust and cooperation will always be an honor for me.”

During the 2023 World Cup, under Shahidi’s captaincy, Afghanistan triumphed over major teams such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, and the Netherlands. The team finished the tournament in sixth place. Their strong performance in the World Cup enabled Afghanistan to qualify for the Champions Trophy.

Under Shahidi’s leadership, Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh three times, Zimbabwe twice, and South Africa-Zimbabwe once in bilateral series. Alongside his captaincy, Shahidi’s batting performance in ODIs was impressive, averaging 33 with a strike rate of 70.

He scored his only ODI century against India, where he played a remarkable innings of 102 runs off 131 balls. Afghanistan is set to play a five-match ODI series against Ireland next. Given the upcoming World Cup in 2027, Shahidi’s decision to step down as ODI captain is viewed as a significant blow for Afghanistan.