Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is set to make his Shaheen Afridi domestic return when he represents Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in the President’s Trophy Grade-I. The first-class tournament begins on Saturday.
The left-arm pacer has been absent from domestic red-ball cricket for several years. His last confirmed first-class appearance came in October 2019, when he played for Northern against Southern Punjab in Sialkot during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
Shaheen’s return comes after he was left out of Pakistan’s squads for the recent West Indies and ongoing England Test tours. The 26-year-old has taken 126 wickets in 34 Tests but has faced questions over his pace and effectiveness in the longer format.
The Shaheen Afridi domestic return could provide him with an important opportunity to rebuild his Test credentials. He recently impressed in the National Champions Cup, leading Pakistan Gold to the title and finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets, including a hat-trick in the final.
KRL will begin its President’s Trophy campaign against Ghani Glass at Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar on Saturday. The eight-team competition will feature 28 four-day matches in a single-league round-robin format, with the top two teams progressing to a five-day final.
Several other Pakistan internationals will also participate in the tournament. Shadab Khan will represent Ghani Glass, while Faheem Ashraf will join Shaheen at KRL. Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Saim Ayub will play for Kingsmen Academy, with Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Rizwan also featuring for different departments.
The Shaheen Afridi domestic return comes as the Pakistan Cricket Board seeks greater participation from established players in domestic red-ball cricket. A productive campaign for KRL could allow the pacer to address concerns over his workload, pace and consistency while giving selectors another chance to assess his Test readiness.
