Naseem Shah (cricketer)


Naseem Abbas Shah is a Pakistani cricketer. In October 2019, at the age of 16, he was called up to the Pakistan cricket team for their Test series against Australia.
He made his international debut for Pakistan in November 2019 against Australia, becoming the ninth-youngest player to make their debut in Test cricket. In December 2019, in the second Test match against Sri Lanka, he became the second-youngest bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a Test match, and also the youngest pace bowler to do so. In February 2020, in the first Test against Bangladesh, he became the youngest bowler to take a hat-trick in a Test match.

Domestic career

He made his first-class debut for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited in the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on 1 September 2018. He made his List A debut for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited in the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam One Day Cup on 16 October 2018.
In September 2019, he was named in Central Punjab's squad for the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy tournament. In October 2019, the Pakistan Cricket Board named him as one of the six players to watch ahead of the 2019–20 National T20 Cup tournament. He made his Twenty20 debut on 13 October 2019, for Central Punjab in the 2019–20 National T20 Cup.

International career

In October 2019, he was named in Pakistan's Test squad for their series against Australia. In November 2019, he played in the three-day warm-up match for Pakistan against Australia A. He made his Test debut for Pakistan, against Australia, on 21 November 2019. The following month, he was named in Pakistan's Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka. In the second match, he took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. At the age of 16 years and 307 days, he became the youngest fast bowler, and the second-youngest among all bowlers, to take a five-wicket haul in a Test match.
He was initially named in Pakistan's squad for the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, but after his impressive start in Test cricket, he was withdrawn from the U19 team. In January 2020, the Pakistan Cricket Board issued a statement on Naseem being withdrawn from their U19 squad. They reiterated that it was due to cricketing reasons, and not concerns of his age, stating they have checked and verified the ages of all cricketers who could play in their U19 team.
On 9 February 2020, in the first Test against Bangladesh, at the age of 16 years and 359 days, he became the youngest bowler to take a Test hat-trick. In May 2020, the PCB awarded him with a central contract ahead of the 2020–21 season.
In June 2020, he was named in a 29-man squad for Pakistan's tour to England during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, he was shortlisted in Pakistan's 20-man squad for the Test matches against England.