Shaheen Afridi likely to miss West Indies and England Tests

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi is increasingly likely to be left out of the Test tours of the West Indies and England after he was not named in the 22-player squad for the red-ball camp announced by the selection committee.

Shaheen has been told he will not be considered for the two tours because he does not play first-class cricket. The same report noted that he was part of Pakistan’s recent Test series against Bangladesh, when this condition was not applied.

Selectors are looking at other pace options after being impressed by performances in the Pakistan Super League. Mohammad Ali and Ubaid Shah are among those being considered, while Mohammad Abbas, Aamir Jamal and Khurram Shehzad are also in contention for selection.

Shaheen has taken 60 wickets in his last 16 Test matches and has 126 wickets in 34 Tests overall. During Pakistan’s 2021 Test series in the West Indies, he took 18 wickets in two matches, including eight in the first Test and 10 in the second. The red-ball camp for 22 players will run from June 8 to July 10. Pakistan are due to start their two-Test series in the West Indies on July 25 before a three-Test series in England beginning on August 19.