Hashmatullah Shahidi has stepped down as Afghanistan’s ODI captain with immediate effect, ending a leadership tenure that began in January 2022. His decision comes after Afghanistan’s 3-0 ODI series loss to India last month. Shahidi captained the team in 55 matches, winning 27 of them, 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 time as captain. “After careful consideration, I have decided to resign as captain of our team. It has been a great honor to lead this team. I sincerely thank the management, the coaches, my teammates, and our supporters for their trust and support throughout this journey,” he wrote.He also said he will continue to represent Afghanistan as a player, adding: “Although I am stepping down as captain, I am 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 team missed out on a place in the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup after memorable wins in 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 losing game against Australia ended their semi-final hopes.Shahidi also led Afghanistan to ODI series wins in Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ireland. Fittingly, his only ODI century came in his final match 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.