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Hashmatullah Shahidi stepped down as Afghanistan ODI captain with immediate effect, ending a tenure at the helm that began in January 2022. His decision comes after Afghanistan’s 3-0 ODI series defeat to India last month. Shahidi captained the team in 55 matches, winning 27, and oversaw one of the most successful periods in Afghanistan’s 50-year history.Confirming his resignation on Instagram, Shahidi thanked everyone who supported him during his captaincy. “After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as captain of our team. It has been a great honor to lead this team. I sincerely thank the management, coaches, my teammates and our fans for their trust and support during this journey,” he wrote.He also made it clear that he would continue to represent Afghanistan as a player, adding: “Although I am stepping down as captain, I remain fully committed to serving the team as a player and wish the new captain and the team continued success.”During Shahidi’s captaincy, Afghanistan reached new heights in ODI cricket. The national team narrowly missed out on a place in the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup after memorable victories over England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. That campaign also earned Afghanistan a place in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where they defeated England before a disappointing performance against Australia ended their semi-final hopes.Shahidi also led Afghanistan to ODI series wins over Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ireland. Fittingly, his only ODI century came in his last game as captain, when he scored 102 against India in Chennai. The Afghanistan Cricket Board is expected to announce a new ODI captain ahead of the team’s five-match ODI series in Ireland next month.
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