Shaheen Afridi Aims for Test Comeback After Domestic Red-Ball Return

Shaheen Shah Afridi is focused on regaining his position in Pakistan's Test squad after making his return to red-ball cricket in the President's Trophy. With a strong desire to play Test cricket, Afridi aims to leverage his domestic performance to secure a recall. He reflects on the challenges of transitioning back to red-ball cricket after a busy international schedule and emphasizes the importance of confidence and consistency in his game. As he leads the ODI team, Afridi's journey back to Test cricket is one to watch, especially following Pakistan's recent struggles in the World Test Championship.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 13, 2026, 00:14 IST

Shaheen Afridi's Focus on Test Cricket

In New Delhi, Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his determination to regain his spot in Pakistan's Test team. He made his return to competitive red-ball cricket during the President's Trophy on Saturday, marking his first appearance in this format since 2019.

The left-arm fast bowler has been absent from the Test squad, missing out on tours to the West Indies and England. Since his Test debut in 2018, Afridi has taken 126 wickets across 34 matches, and he aims to leverage his domestic performance to secure a Test recall.

Afridi stated, "Red-ball cricket has always been my top priority," according to the ICC website. "I have a passion for it. Due to international commitments, I haven't had much opportunity to play, but this is a chance to engage in red-ball cricket again."

Pakistan is optimistic that Afridi's return will positively impact the Test team, especially after suffering a 3-0 defeat in the ICC World Test Championship series against England.

His busy international schedule has kept him away from red-ball cricket for extended periods. Currently, he leads Pakistan's ODI team, with a home tri-series against England and Sri Lanka on the horizon, followed by Test series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand later this year.

Afridi mentioned, "I learned a lot from my elder brother Riaz Afridi, who has extensive experience in first-class cricket. In longer formats, spending more time on the field enhances your confidence and helps refine your line and length."

He emphasized that his bowling style in first-class cricket will reflect what fans have seen from him in Test matches, stating, "I will aim to bowl in first-class cricket as I do in Test cricket."

Acknowledging the significant gap since his last extended red-ball stint, Afridi noted the challenges of transitioning back to this format after being engaged in white-ball cricket.

He remarked, "I haven't played red-ball cricket for several months. Prior to that, I was consistently involved in it. Transitioning from international cricket back to domestic can be tough, especially when you’ve been busy with all three formats. When you have free time, it's essential to play domestic cricket."

Afridi has also demonstrated his skills in ODI cricket, finishing as the top wicket-taker in the recent Champions Cup, where he led his team to victory with impressive bowling figures of 7/36 in the final.

Currently, Pakistan sits ninth in the WTC standings, having secured only two wins out of nine matches in this cycle.