Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi is reportedly set to make his return to the national T20I setup for the upcoming white-ball tour of the West Indies, signaling a major boost for the Men in Green ahead of a jam-packed cricket calendar.
According to Au Rangzeb Younis, Shaheen will be one of three changes expected in the team that took on Bangladesh.
The 25-year-old has not played an international T20 since March, with Pakistan opting for newer faces in the international arena. White-ball coach Mike Hesson had also pointed out the areas Shaheen Afridi needed to work on in order to stake his claim for a comeback. But with the team entering final preparations for the Asia Cup, PCB has reportedly decided to recall the former captain, who is expected to spearhead the attack once more.
Shaheen has missed two series since being sidelined, one at home and one away, both against Bangladesh. Now, with a demanding tour of the West Indies around the corner, team management is eager to reintegrate their premier fast bowler into the T20 fold.
The West Indies tour is expected to feature an experienced squad with a strong focus on narrowing down the team that will play the Asia Cup and ostensibly the T20 World Cup. As a result, Ahmed Daniyal and Abbas Afridi are also expected to make way for Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali.
The tour is slated for early August and will feature both ODIs and T20Is, forming a crucial stretch of preparation in the lead-up to the ACC tournament.
Shaheen Afridi, who has 102 wickets in 79 T20Is, remains one of the most feared fast bowlers in world cricket. His return is likely to strengthen Pakistan’s new-ball plans and provide the bowling unit with a much-needed cutting edge.
The Pakistan selectors are expected to announce the full squad for the West Indies series soon, with Afridi’s inclusion now all but confirmed.
