Pakistan pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi: “I have held in my heart that Test cricket is my true and first priority”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi has confirmed that Test cricket will remain his first priority going forward.
Afridi was Pakistan’s pace spearhead in the longest format, but he has not featured in a Test match since October 2024 as he was not selected for the Test series against South Africa and the West Indies.
Despite having lost his place in the squad, the 24-year-old is determined to make a comeback and dominate in Test cricket again.
“I have held in my heart that Test cricket is my true and first priority,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Afridi recently represented Pakistan in their ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and took six wickets in three matches at an average of 33.16.
He was then involved in the 2025 Champions Trophy and claimed two wickets in two games at an average of 71.
Following this, Afridi featured in Pakistan’s T20I series against New Zealand and finished with two wickets in four games at an average of 66.50.
Pakistan and New Zealand are now playing a three-match ODI series, which Afridi wasn’t picked for.
The 1st ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand started on March 29 in Napier.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir