Shaheen Afridi eyes Test comeback, says red-ball cricket always "priority"

New Delhi [India], September 12 (ANI): Shaheen Shah Afridi has made it clear that reclaiming his place in Pakistan’s Test side remains a priority, as he featured in the President’s Trophy on Saturday, marking his first competitive red-ball appearance in domestic cricket since 2019.

The left-arm pacer is currently out of the Test setup after being left out of Pakistan’s squads for the tours of the West Indies and England. Since making his Test debut in 2018, Afridi has claimed 126 wickets in 34 matches, and will now look to use his domestic return to stake his claim for a Test comeback.

"Red-ball cricket is always my first priority," Afridi said, as per the ICC website.

"I've always loved it. I didn't get enough time to play because of international cricket, but I haven't been playing much cricket for the last couple of months. So it's an opportunity to play red-ball cricket," he added.

Pakistan will be hoping that Afridi's comeback trail bodes well for the Test side that's coming on the back of a 3-0 ICC World Test Championship series defeat against England.

A packed international calendar across all three formats has kept Afridi away from red-ball rhythm for long stretches in recent times.

He remains captain of Pakistan's ODI side, and a home tri-series against England and Sri Lanka is next on the calendar, followed by a home Test series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand later in the year, assignments he will have his sights set on.

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