Shaheen previously led Pakistan in five Twenty20 internationals in New Zealand in January last year but was relieved of the role after a 4-1 defeat.

Pakistan on Tuesday included five spinners and recalled paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi in an 18-man squad for the two-match Test series at home to South Africa.

India are holders and beat Pakistan in both previous matches, but Shaheen was in bullish mood after taking 3-28 against Sri Lanka.

"Bhalobashi", Pakistan’s speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi said in broken Bengali, smiling as he faced the reporters in front of the media centre.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (up 11 places to equal 23rd) and Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai (up two spots to equal 31st) also made ground on the list for ODI batters, while West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie (up one place to equal 14th) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (up nine rungs to equal 23rd) were among the movers for ODI bowlers.

In November 2023, Shaheen Afridi took over as the Pakistan T20I skipper after Babar Azam resigned following Pakistan’s poor run in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

 PCB is currently investigating the team's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup.

Speaking to the PCB Podcast, the left-arm speedster opined that Pakistan were close to success after recent near misses in the 2021 and 2022 edition.

Shaheen led the attack with 3-13 while Amir, returning to international cricket after nearly four years, finished with 2-13

“We support each other in every situation. Our aim is to put Pakistan first, and how to put Pakistan’s name up in lights.,” Babar said

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will hold crisis talks Monday after replaced captain Shaheen Shah Afridi reportedly denied he had made comments backing new skipper Babar Azam that were quoted in a PCB statement.

According to cricket website ESPNCricinfo, Shaheen was on the brink of making a statement to this effect

Babar Azam was named Pakistan's white-ball skipper on Sunday, four and half months after the batter had stepped down as their all-format captain following their World Cup debacle in India.

The third Test, which begins on Wednesday, will see the debut of 21-year-old opener Saim Ayub

Shaheen is struggling with his pace and fitness and has been unimpressive in all three games at the World Cup where his four wickets have come at a cost of 139 runs.

“What a waste of opportunity on a great batting wicket. Disappointed. Very disappointed," said former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on X, formerly Twitter.

"I used to come home after training and he would take my pads and somehow wear them to bed," said elder brother Riaz, a decent player himself with one Test cap to his name.

In the heartwarming video shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board Twitter, Afridi can be seen congratulating Bumrah for the good news to which the Indian pacer replied with thank you. 

The left-arm fast bowler rattled the Indian top-order in their Group A clash last week, taking 4-35 -- including the wickets of star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Standing with legs not covering the line of the three stumps, Rohit’s strategy must have been to avoid what had happened two years back in Dubai during the T20 World Cup in 2021 -- an LBW.