• Shaheen Afridi has reportedly not been included in Pakistan’s red-ball training camp.
• The fast bowler remains part of the white-ball group and is expected to continue leading the ODI side.
• Reports suggest concerns over form, pace and limited first-class cricket influenced the decision.

Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has reportedly been left out of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Test plans as part of a major restructuring of the national red-ball setup.

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According to reports, the PCB has invited 49 players to a training camp in Lahore, with 22 players selected for the red-ball camp and 27 players placed in the white-ball group. Shaheen’s name is reportedly absent from the Test camp squad, signaling what could be a significant shift in Pakistan’s long-term red-ball strategy.

While the left-arm pacer has not been included in the Test group, he remains part of the white-ball setup and is expected to join the ODI and T20 camp. Reports indicate that the white-ball camp will begin on June 15, while preparations for Pakistan’s upcoming West Indies tour are expected to start shortly afterward.

The reported move comes despite Shaheen being one of Pakistan’s most successful fast bowlers in recent years. The 26-year-old made his Test debut against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi in December 2017 and has claimed 126 wickets in 34 Test matches.

His most recent Test appearance came against Bangladesh in Mirpur in May 2026. During that match, Shaheen returned figures of 3/113 in the first innings and 2/54 in the second innings, but Pakistan suffered a 104-run defeat. He was subsequently left out of the second Test in Sylhet.

Reports suggest selectors and team management have raised concerns over a decline in his bowling pace during the Bangladesh series. Shaheen, who has regularly bowled above 140 km/h during his career, was reportedly unable to generate his usual speed consistently during the tour.

Another factor believed to have influenced the decision is his limited involvement in domestic first-class cricket. According to reports, PCB officials feel a lack of regular red-ball cricket may have affected his effectiveness and rhythm in the longer format.

Despite the reported exclusion from Test plans, Shaheen remains a central figure in Pakistan’s white-ball setup and continues to lead the national ODI side. His future in Test cricket, however, now appears uncertain following the latest developments.

Neither the PCB nor Shaheen Afridi has officially commented on the reports so far.

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