LONDON, 26 August 2026 (Ghufran) — Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has suggested that fast bowler Shaheen Afridi’s absence from the Test squad may be linked to issues beyond his knee injury. Ramiz made the remarks during a podcast appearance alongside former England cricketers Sir Alastair Cook, David Lloyd, Michael Vaughan and Phil Tufnell, where he was asked about Shaheen’s continued absence from Pakistan’s Test side. Raja said he was not fully aware of Shaheen’s current situation but acknowledged that the fast bowler may not have completely recovered from his previous knee injury. He also referred to reports of possible concerns over the pacer’s attitude, while stressing that he did not know him well enough to make a definitive judgment. Raja further suggested that Shaheen’s mood, his treatment within the team and administrative issues could potentially have an impact on his performances on the field. He said there was a general impression within the team environment that Shaheen was not always fully engaged, adding that mood swings, feeling inadequately treated and administrative lapses could all contribute to a player’s performance. Shaheen Afridi remains one of Pakistan’s leading fast bowlers across formats, and his absence from the Test side has generated considerable discussion among cricket followers and former players.Raja’s comments, however, were presented as observations and reports rather than confirmed facts about Shaheen’s personal or professional situation.