The 31-year-old announced his decision through a social media post, citing personal reasons for relinquishing the role. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has not yet named a successor, and an official announcement regarding the new ODI captain is expected in the coming days.

Shahidi took over the ODI captaincy in 2022 and led Afghanistan during a transformative period for the team. Under his leadership, Afghanistan gained recognition as one of the most competitive emerging sides in world cricket and delivered several memorable performances on the global stage.

His tenure is particularly remembered for Afghanistan's campaign at the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India. The team stunned several established cricket nations, defeating England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands during the tournament.

Those victories elevated Afghanistan's status in international cricket and highlighted the growing depth and confidence within the squad. Although the team narrowly missed out on a semi-final berth, its performances were widely regarded as one of the major stories of the competition.

Shahidi also captained Afghanistan during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, continuing to guide a side that has become increasingly competitive against higher-ranked opponents.

In his statement announcing the resignation, Shahidi described the captaincy as an honour and thanked players, coaches and cricket administrators for their support during his tenure.

He indicated that the decision was driven by personal considerations rather than cricketing reasons and emphasized that he remains committed to representing Afghanistan as a player.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has yet to comment on possible replacements, though discussions around the next captain are expected to intensify given the team's busy international schedule.

While Afghanistan cricket prepares for a leadership transition, another major sporting story unfolded in Chennai, where reigning World Chess Champion D. Gukesh suffered his second consecutive defeat at the Chennai Grand Masters tournament.

The setback has come as a surprise to many chess followers, given Gukesh's remarkable rise over the past year and his status as one of the world's most promising young grandmasters.

The Chennai Grand Masters has attracted significant attention because it features several elite players competing on Indian soil. Expectations were particularly high for Gukesh following his recent achievements on the international circuit.

However, the world champion has struggled to find momentum in the event and now finds himself under pressure after back-to-back losses.

Chess experts noted that consecutive defeats are rare for players of Gukesh's calibre, making the development one of the biggest talking points of the tournament so far.

Despite the disappointing results, observers have cautioned against drawing long-term conclusions. Elite chess tournaments are often decided by fine margins, and even the strongest players can experience difficult stretches during demanding competitions.

For Indian chess fans, the tournament remains important not only because of Gukesh's participation but also because it reflects India's growing influence in global chess. The country has produced a remarkable generation of young grandmasters in recent years, with Gukesh emerging as one of its leading figures.

The latest developments in cricket and chess underline contrasting moments for two prominent athletes. While Shahidi has voluntarily brought a successful chapter of leadership to a close, Gukesh is facing a challenging period in a tournament where expectations remain exceptionally high.

Attention will now turn to Afghanistan's search for a new ODI captain and Gukesh's efforts to bounce back in the remaining rounds of the Chennai Grand Masters.