The Pakistan National Cricket Team has suffered a major setback before the ongoing two-match Test series against the West Indies. Young batsman Abdullah Fazal has been ruled out due to injury and this has almost cleared the way for Abdullah Shafiq to return to the Test team.
Shafiq is waiting for another chance in the Pakistan team and now Fazal’s injury may help him make a comeback in the middle of the ongoing Test series against West Indies. Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi has filed a complaint after being left out of the LPL 2026 match.
Abdullah Fazal has suffered serious back injury.
Abdullah Fazal suffered a lower back injury during a training session at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad on 23 July. He was preparing with the Pakistan team when he suffered a lower back injury. Following the injury, Fazal underwent an MRI scan and a complete medical examination.
The Pakistan team medical staff confirmed that he has a serious lower back injury and will now require proper rehabilitation before returning to cricket. As a result, Fazal has been ruled out of Pakistan’s ongoing two-match Test series against the West Indies.
He will also not play in the upcoming three-match Test series against England. The PCB had said: “Following an MRI scan and clinical assessment, the team medical panel confirmed that Abdullah will require a period of rehabilitation and has therefore been ruled out of both duties.”
Abdullah Shafiq is ready to make a comeback in Pakistan Test after Abdullah Fazal’s injury
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to officially announce Abdullah Fazal’s replacement, but Abdullah Shafiq is said to be expected to be brought back into the Test squad for the upcoming matches. Meanwhile, Mehdi Hasan opened up on Bangladesh not playing in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Abdullah Shafiq’s return to the Test team is certain after his brilliant performance in domestic cricket. He scored a mammoth score of 911 runs in the President Trophy Grade-II Gold tournament. His average during the competition was 82.82 and he also scored three centuries.
Abdullah Shafiq is set to return to Pakistan’s Test team as a replacement for Abdullah Fazal, who has been ruled out with a lower back injury. ABD recently scored 911 (red ball) runs at an average of 82.82, including 3 centuries, in the President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold.
– Umar Farooq Kalson (@kalson) July 25, 2026
Those impressive statistics have made him one of the strongest contenders for a place in Pakistan’s Test team. If he gets the official call-up, Abdullah Shafiq will have a golden opportunity to prove himself again at the international level and strengthen Pakistan’s batting line-up in the upcoming Tests.
The right-handed batsman has played 24 Test and 27 ODI matches for Pakistan so far, in which he has scored 1610 runs and 737 runs respectively. He last played for Pakistan in October 2025.
Pakistan bowlers dominated on the first day
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s bowlers got off to a strong start on the first day of the first Test against West Indies at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy as the visitors restricted the hosts to 194/3 in 67 overs. The day’s play was cut short due to rain and bad light, but Pakistan maintained the pressure throughout.
Mohammad Abbas took 2 wickets, while Aamir Jamal took one wicket. For the West Indies, Kavem Hodge remained unbeaten on 83, and Shai Hope remained unbeaten on 39, with the duo already making an unbeaten 88-run partnership in the first Test.
