Shafique Looks Forward to England Challenge

Abdullah Shafique has been named to Pakistan’s Test team for the upcoming England series following an outstanding performance in the West Indies.

Pakistan won the second Test by eight wickets, due to the 26-year-old batsman’s unbeaten 160 in the first innings in Port of Spain and 24 not out in the fourth. For Pakistani batters in the area, his century was a historic achievement and his first since October 2024.

Shafique was joined to the West Indies team after Abdullah Fazal injured his lower back while training at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Shafique made his Test debut at number three in the Port of Spain Test and performed admirably.

“I’ve played one game for Yorkshire in the County Championship last summer and feel confident about adjusting to the conditions at Leeds,” he told PCB media.

Shafique’s breakthrough in the West Indies

Shafique’s recent success comes after a tough period in which he averaged 20.52 in Test matches from December 2023 to October 2025. He participated in the President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold event, where he batted in seaming and spin-friendly conditions across four sites, as part of his preparation for the England tour. The home tournament helped him improve under pressure and in challenging situations.

“I’ve faced England a few times at home (2022 and 2024) and this away series against them will be an exciting challenge,” Shafique said.

As they prepare for the England series, which includes Test matches at Headingley, Lord’s, and Edgbaston, Pakistan will look to capitalise on their current momentum. Despite winning three successive series in England in 1987, 1992, and 1996, Pakistan has not won a single Test series in the last thirty years.