In the high-stakes world of international cricket, few decisions rattle the foundations quite like a sudden captaincy change. Pakistan's cricket fraternity was left stunned on October 20, 2025, when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) abruptly removed Mohammad Rizwan from his role as ODI skipper, handing the reins to pace sensation Shaheen Shah Afridi. Just a year into the job, Rizwan's ouster has ignited fierce debates, with former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif pointing fingers squarely at white-ball head coach Mike Hesson. Latif's bold claims—that Rizwan's devout faith and vocal support for Palestine fueled the move—have turned this into a powder keg of controversy, blending sport, religion, and geopolitics.

Rizwan's Brief but Turbulent Reign

Mohammad Rizwan stepped into the ODI captaincy spotlight last October, succeeding Babar Azam amid a wave of leadership shake-ups in Pakistani cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter, known for his gritty resilience and impeccable glovework, brought a fresh energy to the side. Early days were promising: under his guidance, Pakistan clinched a historic 2-1 series win in Australia—their first there in over two decades—and followed it up with triumphs in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Rizwan's own batting form soared too, averaging over 50 in ODIs during his tenure.

Yet, cracks soon appeared. The team's dismal showing at the 2025 Champions Trophy, where they crashed out of Group A without a win against India, New Zealand, or Bangladesh, drew heavy criticism. Things worsened with a humiliating 2-1 loss to West Indies—their first series defeat in the Caribbean in 34 years. Rizwan's leadership was dissected endlessly: his tactical calls questioned, his inability to rally the side under pressure highlighted. But was performance the real culprit, or something deeper?

Whispers of Betting and Ethical Standoffs

Behind the scenes, murmurs of a more personal clash emerged. Reports suggest Rizwan's firm stance against promoting betting companies played a pivotal role in his downfall. In Pakistan, where gambling clashes with Islamic principles, Rizwan reportedly informed the PCB upfront that he wouldn't endorse such sponsors. This came to a head during his stint with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League, where he donned a modified jersey sans the betting logo. While admirers hailed his integrity, PCB officials, bound by lucrative commercial deals, saw it as a direct snub. "Rizwan had made it clear he wouldn't compromise his values," one insider revealed, painting a picture of a principled athlete caught in the crossfire of modern cricket's money machine.

This ethical bind isn't new to the sport—recall Moeen Ali's 2014 ICC ban for pro-Palestine wristbands. For Rizwan, it amplified existing tensions, turning a quiet stand into a headline-grabbing saga.

Latif's Fiery Accusations: Faith, Palestine, and Foreign Influence

Enter Rashid Latif, the outspoken ex-wicketkeeper whose YouTube rants have long stirred the pot. In a viral video on his channel Caught Behind, Latif didn't mince words, laying the blame at Mike Hesson's doorstep. The New Zealand coach, appointed in May 2025 post-PSL, allegedly viewed Rizwan's leadership as too steeped in "religious culture." Latif fumed: "Just because he raised the Palestine flag, will you sack him? This mindset—that an Islamic country needs a non-Islamic captain—is abysmal. Hesson doesn't like this culture in the dressing room; he wants it to end."

Rizwan's pro-Palestine gestures weren't subtle. In April 2025, via his PSL franchise Multan Sultans, he pledged PKR 100,000 to Palestinian charities for every six or wicket in a match. Back in 2023, he'd dedicated a World Cup win over Sri Lanka to Gaza's "brothers and sisters." Latif argued these acts, plus Rizwan's push for team prayers and Islamic rituals, irked Hesson—a foreigner uncomfortable with the dressing room's spiritual vibe. Drawing parallels to icons like Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar, who blended faith and cricket seamlessly, Latif decried a "group of five or six" insiders hell-bent on diluting Pakistan's cultural core.

The PCB's official line? Stone silence. Their release skipped Rizwan entirely, noting only a selection committee meeting with Hesson that greenlit Shaheen's appointment for the November ODI series against South Africa in Faisalabad.

A Fractured Future for Pakistan Cricket?

As Shaheen Afridi—himself a twice-sacked white-ball captain—gears up for his latest shot, Pakistan's ODI setup now mirrors a format carousel: three captains across three codes, with Shan Masood in Tests and Salman Ali Agha in T20Is. Fans fret over instability, while analysts like Omair Alavi question Hesson's snap judgment after just one series under his watch.

Rizwan's sacking underscores cricket's tightrope walk in Pakistan: where passion for the game collides with faith, ethics, and global pressures. Will Shaheen steady the ship, or is this the latest symptom of deeper woes? One thing's clear—the echoes of this drama will linger long after the Faisalabad floodlights fade.

Read Also: BCCI's Stern Ultimatum to Mohsin Naqvi: Asia Cup Trophy Handover or ICC Showdown

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