The left-handed batter shared the news through an emotional statement on Instagram, bringing an end to his tenure as leader while reaffirming his commitment to continue representing Afghanistan as a player.
In his heartfelt note, Shahidi revealed that the decision came after “careful personal consideration.” He expressed gratitude to everyone who stood by him during his captaincy, including the team management, coaching staff, teammates, and the passionate Afghan supporters.
“After careful personal 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 supporters for their trust and support throughout this journey,” Shahidi wrote.
While announcing his resignation, the 30-year-old made it clear that his journey with Afghanistan cricket is far from over. He emphasized that he remains fully committed to contributing to the team’s success as a player and extended his best wishes to the next captain.
“Although I am resigning as captain, I remain fully committed to serving the team as a player and wish the new captain and the team continued success,” he added.
Hashmatullah Shahidi has been a key figure in Afghanistan’s batting line-up across formats and has earned a reputation for his calm temperament and dependable performances. As captain, he led Afghanistan through several important bilateral series and ICC tournaments, helping the side continue its rise in international cricket. Under his leadership, the team registered notable victories against established cricketing nations and further strengthened its position as one of the most competitive emerging teams in world cricket.
His resignation marks the beginning of a new chapter for Afghanistan cricket as the board prepares to appoint a new ODI captain. Fans have flooded social media with messages of appreciation, thanking Shahidi for his leadership and wishing him success in the next phase of his international career.
Although he is stepping away from captaincy responsibilities, Hashmatullah Shahidi’s focus now shifts entirely to contributing with the bat as Afghanistan continues its preparations for upcoming international assignments.
