PCB likely to drop ODI Captain Shaheen Afridi from Test plans permanently

Pakistan’s white-ball captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has been left out of the national Test team camp, with selectors opting to include him only in preparations for limited-overs cricket, 24NewsHD TV reported on Monday. 

According to sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shortlisted 22 players for the red-ball camp, and 27 players for the white-ball camp as preparations begin for upcoming international assignments, including the tour of the West Indies.

According to the reports, the white-ball camp is scheduled to continue until Sept. 18, while the red-ball training camp will run until July 10.

A separate camp for the West Indies tour is expected to begin on July 15.

Despite serving as Pakistan’s ODI captain, Shaheen was not included among the players selected for the Test camp.

Instead, he has been named only in the white-ball squad, a move that signals the selectors’ preference to limit his role to shorter formats for the foreseeable future.

Shaheen last played a Test match against Bangladesh.

In that match, he claimed three wickets while conceding 113 runs in the first innings and took two wickets for 54 runs in the second innings.

He was subsequently replaced by Khurram Shahzad for the following Test.

Reports said members of the PCB think tank have concerns over Shaheen’s absence from first-class cricket, believing that regular participation in four-day matches is essential for maintaining and improving performance in the longer format.

The report added that, based on those concerns, the board has decided not to consider the left-arm fast bowler for Test selection in the near future unless there is a significant change in his red-ball cricket involvement.