On Saturday, September 12, 2026, Shaheen Afridi will play for Khan Research Laboratories in the President’s Trophy Grade-I, marking his return to competitive first-class cricket. On Thursday, September 10, the 26-year-old left-arm pacer’s participation was announced. On the first day of the event, KRL will play Ghani Glass at Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar.
Afridi’s inclusion follows his exclusion from Pakistan’s Test squads for the West Indies and England tours. His minimal involvement in first-class cricket is reportedly one of the reasons he was left out. In October 2019, the 26-year-old made his final domestic first-class debut while representing Northern versus Southern Punjab in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. His return to the format is an important step in his attempt to restore his Test career, given that he hasn’t played a domestic four-day match since.
The KRL team will be captained by Iftikhar Ahmed and vice-captained by Fakhar Zaman. Alongside them, Shaheen is listed on the tournament squad. Shaheen last participated in Test cricket during Pakistan’s earlier-year tour of Bangladesh. The left-arm bowler has claimed 126 wickets in 34 Test matches, with four five-wicket hauls and thirteen four-wicket hauls.
Shaheen has continued to be active and productive in other forms despite his protracted hiatus from local first-class cricket. With 13 wickets throughout the competition, including a hat-trick in the championship match, he guided Pakistan Gold to victory in the National Champions Cup last month. His fitness and rhythm were unquestionable going into this red-ball assignment, as seen by that white-ball performance.
Since making his debut for Pakistan in 2018, Shaheen has claimed 126 wickets in 34 Test matches. Given his recent white-ball productivity and consistent international record, the PCB’s choice to send him through local cricket before any Test recall thus indicates a procedural administrative obligation more than a fitness worry.
