Naseem shah

 Naseem Shah: 

 Star is Born

  It's not often that a 16-year-old pacer makes his debut in the international arena, let alone against the world champions. But that's exactly what Naseem Shah did when he played his first match against Australia in November 2019. Pakistan cricket had seen some talented fast bowlers in the past, but none as young as Naseem. Hailing from a small village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Naseem was discovered by former Pakistani bowler Jalaluddin during a training camp. He quickly made a name for himself in the domestic circuit and was picked for Pakistan's U-19 team. Naseem's performance in the U-19 World Cup held in South Africa earlier this year caught the eye of the selectors, who picked him for the Australia tour. The teenager didn't disappoint in his debut match, taking a wicket on his very first ball in Test cricket. While some questioned the wisdom of picking such a young player against a formidable Australian side, Naseem proved his mettle with every over he bowled. He ended up taking five wickets in the series, with his fastest ball clocking 147 kmph. Apart from his speed, what sets Naseem apart is his ability to swing the ball both ways. His height - 6 feet and 1 inch - gives him an advantage, allowing him to extract bounce and generate movement off the pitch. Watching him bowl is a treat for any cricket fan, and one can't help but feel excited at the prospect of what he can achieve in the coming years. But it's not just his bowling skills that make Naseem special. Despite his youth, he's already displayed an impressive level of maturity on and off the field. He's credited his parents for his success and says he wants to make them proud. In a post-match interview, he revealed that his father, who was a keen cricketer himself, had always dreamt of seeing his son play for Pakistan. "I always felt that one day my father will be happy and will say 'yes, that's my son'. Today he is no more with us but wherever he is, he will be proud," said Naseem. It's hard not to be impressed by the way Naseem carries himself. He's calm, composed and appears unfazed by the pressure that comes with playing at the international level. He's been compared to the likes of Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, but Naseem is quick to shrug off such comparisons. "I don't compare myself with anyone. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. I want to make my own identity and work on my own game," he says.
  

It's this attitude that makes Naseem stand out. Despite his youth and relative lack of experience, he seems determined to carve out a place for himself in Pakistani cricket history. Star is Born

  It's not often that a 16-year-old pacer makes his debut in the international arena, let alone against the world champions. But that's exactly what Naseem Shah did when he played his first match against Australia in November 2019. Pakistan cricket had seen some talented fast bowlers in the past, but none as young as Naseem. Hailing from a small village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Naseem was discovered by former Pakistani bowler Jalaluddin during a training camp. He quickly made a name for himself in the domestic circuit and was picked for Pakistan's Under 19 team. Naseem's performance in the U-19 World Cup held in South Africa earlier this year caught the eye of the selectors, who picked him for the Australia tour. The teenager didn't disappoint in his debut match, taking a wicket on his very first ball in Test cricket. While some questioned the wisdom of picking such a young player against a formidable Australian side, Naseem proved his mettle with every over he bowled. He ended up taking five wickets in the series, with his fastest ball clocking 147 kmph. Apart from his speed, what sets Naseem apart is his ability to swing the ball both ways. His height - 6 feet and 1 inch - gives him an advantage, allowing him to extract bounce and generate movement off the pitch. Watching him bowl is a treat for any cricket fan, and one can't help but feel excited at the prospect of what he can achieve in the coming years. But it's not just his bowling skills that make Naseem special. Despite his youth, he's already displayed an impressive level of maturity on and off the field. He's credited his parents for his success and says he wants to make them proud. In a post-match interview, he revealed that his father, who was a keen cricketer himself, had always dreamt of seeing his son play for Pakistan. "I always felt that one day my father will be happy and will say 'yes, that's my son'. Today he is no more with us but wherever he is, he will be proud," said Naseem. It's hard not to be impressed by the way Naseem carries himself. He's calm, composed and appears unfazed by the pressure that comes with playing at the international level. He's been compared to the likes of Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, but Naseem is quick to shrug off such comparisons. "I don't compare myself with anyone. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. I want to make my own identity and work on my own game," he says. It's this attitude that makes Naseem stand out. Despite his youth and relative lack of experience, he seems determined to carve out a place for himself in Pakistani cricket history.