The left-arm pacer is currently out of the Test setup after being left out of Pakistan’s squads for the tours of the West Indies and England. Shaheen Shah Afridi has made it clear that reclaiming his place in Pakistan’s Test side remains a priority, as he featured in the President’s Trophy on Saturday, marking his first competitive red-ball appearance in domestic cricket since 2019. Since making his Test debut in 2018, Afridi has claimed 126 wickets in 34 matches, and will now look to use his domestic return to stake his claim for a Test comeback.
Pakistan will be hoping that Afridi’s comeback trail bodes well for the Test side that’s coming on the back of a 3-0 ICC World Test Championship series defeat against England.
“Red-ball cricket is always my first priority,” Afridi said, as per the ICC website.
Afridi Leads Pakistan in Upcoming Series Following Champions Cup Victory
Babar Azam remains the captain of Pakistan’s ODI team as they prepare for a home tri-series against England and Sri Lanka. This will be followed by a home Test series featuring Sri Lanka and New Zealand later in the year.
Shaheen Afridi, who has been performing exceptionally well, recently finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Champions Cup. He played a crucial role in his team’s victory, achieving impressive bowling figures of 7/36 in the final.
Reflecting on his development, Afridi credited his elder brother, Riaz Afridi, for his guidance in first-class cricket. He emphasized the importance of spending time on the field to build confidence and refine his skills. Afridi stated, “I’ll try to bowl the same way in first-class cricket as I’ve bowled in Test cricket.”
