Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Media Director Aalia Rasheed has announced that fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been appointed as the vice-captain of the Pakistan Test cricket team for the three-match Test series Down Under.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday appointed star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi as vice-captain of the national Test team ahead of the series against Australia. The left-arm pacer, considered one of the most devastating fast bowlers in modern cricket, was named captain of the Pakistan T20I team in November, succeeding outgoing captain Babar Azam.

Afridi, who has represented Pakistan in all three formats of cricket, has played 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 52 T20Is. He will be the deputy to Shan Masood, who was appointed Pakistan Test captain in November. After Pakistan's disastrous performance in the World Cup last month, where the green shirts failed to qualify for the semi-finals under his leadership, Azam decided to step down from his captaincy in all formats of the game.

Afridi is named in the playing eleven that will take part in the first Test from tomorrow, December 14, 2023. PCB confirmed the playing eleven earlier today, which also includes two speedy debutants.

Shaheen Shah Afridi is spearheading the bowling attack as this is his second Test tour Down Under. He was part of the previous team that went to Australia.

Khurram Shahzad and Aamir Jamal both put in excellent performances in this year's Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan's premier first-class tournament. They come into the series with strong performances. They are supported by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem Ashraf, who have more experience in the testing field.