Speed gun data made the decision for the selectors. Shaheen’s pace has dropped to 126 km/h in recent matches, well below what Test cricket demands from a strike bowler, and that alone was enough to leave him out of both squads. His numbers slipped too, just 27 wickets in his last 16 innings since knee surgery. Mohammad Ali and Ubaid Shah now carry the new-ball responsibility across two demanding away series, starting with a trip to the West Indies before a tougher assignment in England follows soon after that.
A Squad Overhaul Ahead of Two Away Tours
The PCB confirmed both squads on July 5, covering two Tests in the West Indies from July 25 to August 6 and three Tests in England from August 19 to September 13, two grueling assignments back to back. Babar Azam returns as captain after Shan Masood’s difficult tenure, twelve losses from sixteen Tests, the worst start recorded by any Test captain in the entire format’s long history. Four completely uncapped players feature across the two touring parties, a sign of how far the selectors are willing to go to reset a struggling side heading into two of the toughest away assignments on the calendar this year.
Pakistan currently sit bottom of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 standings, holding just four points and a points percentage of 8.33 from four matches played, a table position that partly explains why the selectors chose this moment to act decisively rather than persist with the same personnel that has struggled through recent series against tougher opposition.
Bowler | Tests | Wickets | Average | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Shaheen Afridi | 31 | 27 (last 16 inns) | 40.11 recent | Dropped |
Mohammad Abbas | 29 | 110 | 23.23 | Recalled |
Mohammad Ali | 4/66 FC | 6/244 FC | 25.03 FC | Recalled |
Ubaid Shah | Uncapped | 72 FC | 25.20 FC | Debut call-up |
Khurram Shahzad | Retained | N/A | N/A | Retained |
Pakistan Pace Attack Test 2026 Shaheen Afridi
Selector Aaqib Javed pointed to speed gun readings from the NCA pre-tour red-ball camp as the deciding evidence, describing the pace drop to 126 km/h in recent matches in Bangladesh as simply unacceptable for a frontline quick operating at this level of Test cricket. Shaheen was never invited to that camp alongside players like Noman Ali, effectively signalling his exclusion before the formal squads were even announced to the public. Being left off that camp list was the clearest early signal of what was coming, days before the official squad announcement made it official for everyone watching closely from outside the setup.
The Numbers Behind One Bowler’s Exclusion
Since returning from knee surgery in 2023, the left-armer has taken only 27 wickets across 16 Test innings at an average of 40.11, numbers well below the standard he set earlier in his career. He was dropped mid-series in Bangladesh, missing the Sylhet Test entirely after returning match figures of 5 for 167 across two innings in the opening Test at Dhaka. Pakistan lost that series 2-0, their second straight Test defeat to Bangladesh, and Javed was blunt about the trade-off, saying players sometimes have to choose which format they actually want to prioritise.
Meet the Fresh Faces Coming In
Mohammad Ali returns after two years out, having taken 32 wickets in nine Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches during 2025-26 at an average of 26.84, backed by a first-class record of 244 wickets in 66 matches at 25.03. Ubaid Shah, just 20 years old, earns his first Test call-up on the back of 72 first-class wickets in 16 matches at 25.20 since October 2024, and is the younger brother of Naseem Shah. Mohammad Abbas, with 110 wickets in 29 Tests at 23.23, supplies the experience this reshaped attack still badly needs on pitches very different from anything Pakistan sees at home.
What Comes Next for the Left-Armer
Selector Misbah-ul-Haq struck a measured tone, noting that being left out of one touring squad should not be read as the definitive end of anyone’s Test career at this relatively early stage. A route back remains genuinely open, but it depends entirely on recovering both raw pace and consistent red-ball form at a time when this Pakistan pace attack Test 2026 Shaheen Afridi story is being watched closely by a side under real pressure to climb out of the very bottom of the World Test Championship table this cycle.
Would you have picked Shaheen on reputation alone, or do the numbers justify leaving him out completely? Share your take below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why was Shaheen Afridi left out of Pakistan’s Test squad?
Speed gun data showed his pace had dropped to 126 km/h. He also averaged 40.11 across his last 16 Test innings, well below his previous standard since knee surgery in 2023.
Who are the new pace bowlers in Pakistan’s squad?
Ubaid Shah is the uncapped debutant, alongside recalled bowler Mohammad Ali. Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad were retained, giving the attack a mix of youth and experience.
Is Ubaid Shah related to another Pakistan fast bowler?
Yes, he is the younger brother of pacer Naseem Shah. Ubaid earned his maiden call-up on the back of 72 first-class wickets in 16 matches at an average of 25.20.
When do Pakistan’s away Test tours begin this year?
The West Indies series starts July 25. The tour continues through August 6, before a three-Test series in England runs from August 19 to September 13.
Could Shaheen Afridi return to the Test side again later?
Selector Misbah-ul-Haq left the door open for a future return. Recovering both his pace and consistent red-ball form remains the clearest path back into a struggling attack.