Karachi: Shaheen Shah Afridi, the prominent left-arm pacer for Pakistan, has reaffirmed his commitment to returning to the national Test squad, emphasizing that red-ball cricket remains his primary focus. Afridi recently participated in the President's Trophy, marking his first domestic red-ball cricket appearance since 2019. This move comes as he seeks to regain his place in the Test side after being excluded from the squads for the tours of the West Indies and England.

According to International Cricket Council, Afridi has expressed his enduring passion for Test cricket, despite the challenges posed by a packed international calendar that has kept him occupied with white-ball formats. Since his Test debut in 2018, Afridi has amassed 126 wickets in 34 matches, a testament to his skill and consistency. As captain of Pakistan's ODI team, Afridi is preparing for a home tri-series against England and Sri Lanka, followed by a Test series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Afridi credits his elder brother, Riaz Afridi, for his development in first-class cricket, noting the importance of time on the field for building confidence and refining technique. He aims to maintain the same bowling approach in domestic competitions as he does in international Test matches. Pakistan, currently ranked ninth in the World Test Championship standings, hopes Afridi's return will bolster their performance after a recent 3-0 series defeat to England.

Despite his absence from red-ball cricket, Afridi has continued to excel in ODIs, emerging as the leading wicket-taker in the Champions Cup and leading his team to victory with a standout performance in the final. Afridi acknowledges the challenge of transitioning between formats but remains committed to his goal of returning to the Test arena, emphasizing the importance of domestic cricket opportunities to maintain his red-ball skills.