Asad Shafiq made his International debut against Bangladesh in the 2010 Asia Cup at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium he scored 17 runs from 19 balls and was stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim in what was a dead rubber as neither side could progress to the final. Shafiq was next selected when three Pakistani players were involved in Spot-fixing allegations the three players Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and test captain Salman Butt Shafiq was selected alongside 7 foot 1 inch emerging fast-bowler Mohammad Irfan. He got his maiden fifty in ODI cricket against England on 12 September 2010.

On the back of his good performances during the tour he was selected to play in the five-match ODI series against South Africa and a two-match test series against them as well^[5] He was promoted to opener in the first two ODI's and struggled in the role, therefore he was moved down the order to his preferred number 4 position just below Younus Khan, Shafiq excelled in that position and displayed his talent as a batsman. He was however rested for the final ODI in place of veteran Mohammad Yousuf.

Shafiq was not selected for the first test match in the two match test series against South Africa but after a horrible stroke by Umar Akmal he made his debut in the following match scoring 61 in his debut innings but not getting a chance to bat in the second innings as Pakistan already managed to salvage a draw.

Shafiq was selected for the New Zealand series but didn't play the first Twenty20 International owing to a severe case of food poisoning, Pakistan performed poorly and therefore Shafiq was given his Twenty20 debut in the following match in place of left-handed Fawad Alam. He played both tests in the series, which Pakistan won 1–0. During the first match of the series Shafiq scored 83 in the first innings and was not required to bat in the second innings as Pakistan won by 10 wickets.

Shafiq was selected for Pakistan's 2011 World Cup squad but did not play in the first four matches, before making his debut against Zimbabawe in the fifth match, inplace of an injured Umar Akmal, in which he scored his highest ODI score of 78*, guiding Pakistan to a 7 wicket win. In his last match against Australia, Shafiq has played a very matured inning of a