Pakistan’s ODI captain Shaheen Afridi is unlikely to be part of the national side’s plans for the upcoming Test series as the PCB moves ahead with a broader red-ball restructuring.
According to reports, the board has called 49 players to a training camp in Lahore, dividing them into red-ball and white-ball groups. Of them, 22 players have been shortlisted for the Test setup, while 27 have been placed in the white-ball pool. Shaheen Afridi has reportedly been included only in the white-ball category and is not part of the Test camp.
Officials said the white-ball camp will begin on September 18, while the red-ball camp will continue until July 10. Preparations for the upcoming West Indies tour are expected to start from July 15.
Despite leading Pakistan’s ODI side, Shaheen Afridi has reportedly not been included among the players being considered for the Test program. He is expected to join the white-ball camp on June 15 along with other selected players.
The 26-year-old made his Test debut against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi in December 2017 and last featured in the format against Bangladesh in Mirpur in May 2026. In 34 Test matches, he has taken 126 wickets.
During Pakistan’s recent Test series defeat to Bangladesh, he returned figures of 3-113 in the first innings and 2-54 in the second before being left out of the following match in Sylhet.
Reports suggest selectors are concerned over a dip in his pace during that series, where he was unable to consistently hit the speeds that once made him one of Pakistan’s most dangerous fast bowlers.
Another reported concern is his limited involvement in first-class cricket, with officials believing that the lack of regular red-ball cricket may have affected his recent performances in the longer format.
Based on those factors, reports suggest the board is moving away from considering the ODI captain for future Test assignments, while still seeing him as an important part of Pakistan’s white-ball plans.