Pakistan’s selectors have axed fast-bowling stars Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah from the red-ball squad for the upcoming West Indies Test tour, confirming a major shake-up in the pace department.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has given the selection committee full authority to overhaul the side after the 2-0 Test series defeat to Bangladesh in June 2026. Shaheen Afridi, 26, and Naseem Shah, 27, are now viewed primarily as white-ball specialists, with Hasan Ali and veteran spinner Noman Ali also left out.
What happened?
In a sweeping change, the PCB dropped Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Hasan Ali, and Noman Ali from the red-ball squad for the West Indies tour. The move follows the 2-0 loss to Bangladesh, where Pakistan’s pace attack struggled in the longest format.
Muhammad Abbas, 36, and Muhammad Ali, 33, will lead the new-look attack. Abbas and Ali are currently playing county cricket in England and will fly straight to the Caribbean. The rest of the pace unit includes Khurram Shehzad, all-rounder Aamer Jamal, and Naseem Shah’s 19-year-old brother Ubaid Shah, who earns his first Test call-up.
The PCB will name the final 17-man squad later this week. That same group will then travel to England for a three-Test series starting after the West Indies tour.
Why it matters for Shaheen Afridi
The selectors’ decision marks a clear downgrade for Shaheen Afridi in red-ball cricket. At 26, he remains Pakistan’s premier white-ball bowler, but the PCB now sees him as a limited-overs specialist. The move reflects wider frustration with Pakistan’s recent Test performances and a push to blood younger pacers.
Sources close to the PCB told reporters that Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Hasan Ali are no longer considered red-ball options. The board wants to groom Ubaid Shah and others for the longer format, leaving the trio to focus on ODIs and T20Is.
What comes next?
Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies kicks off with a four-day warm-up on July 21, 2026. The first Test begins on July 25 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, followed by the second Test on August 2 in Port of Spain.
The same squad will then head to England for three Tests starting August 14 in Manchester. Abbas and Ali’s county form will be key, while Ubaid Shah gets his first taste of international cricket under pressure.
Reaction and fallout
Former Pakistan cricketers have long demanded overhauls after repeated Test failures. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi gave the selection committee, led by Aaqib Javed, a free hand to revamp the side.
The changes leave Shaheen Afridi’s red-ball future uncertain. His white-ball role remains secure, but the PCB’s shift signals a generational handover in Pakistan’s pace attack. The selectors will watch Abbas, Ali, and Ubaid Shah closely in the Caribbean before the England tour.