Who is Naseem Shah? ''in cricket''

 Naseem Shah

Naseem Abbas Shah  born 15 February 2003 is a Pakistani international cricketer.He is a fast bowler and is in playing eleven in T20 Format. 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.

Personal life

Naseem hails from Mayar Jandool a town in the Lower Dir district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Pakistan.

His father Abbas Shah was against his decision to play cricket preferring him to concentrate on his education while his mother died in 2019 a day before his Test debut at the age of 16.

He has two sisters and four brothers including Hunain Shah. His younger brother who's a fast bowler playing at first class level.

In February 2023 Naseem Shah was given the honorary rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police ''DSP'' in the Balochistan Police with high level officials in attendance in Quetta. He expressed pride in being an ambassador for the province and pledged to represent it. The event took place a day before a 2023 Pakistan Super League exhibition match.

Domestic and franchise career

After playing tape ball cricket for few years in Lower Dir Naseem began his professional journey at the age of 13 when his uncle enrolled him in the Abdul Qadir cricket academy in Lahore. Where he would be coached by Sulaman Qadir before getting selected for the Lahore Under 16 team at the age of 13 and later for the Pakistan Under 16 team at the age of 14.

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 ''PCB'' 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.

On 15 September 2021 Naseem Shah took the crucial 2 wickets in the final of the 2021 Caribbean Premier League ''CPL''. which helped st Kitts and Nevis Patriots register their first CPL title.

In January 2022 he was signed by Gloucestershire County Cricket Club to play in domestic tournaments during the first half of the 2022 season in England. In April 2022 he was bought by the Welsh Fire for the 2022 season of The Hundred also in England. However Shah was ruled out of matches for a month after picking up a shoulder injury in his first match for Gloucestershire.

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. His debut was appreciated by many senior cricketers such as former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis and former England captain Michael Vaughan the latter being impressed by the 16 years old touching 147 km/h or 91.3 mph in his first ever over. 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 ''PCB'' 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. On 21 August he was named in Pakistan's Twenty20 International ''T20I'' squad, also for the series against England. In November 2020 he was named in Pakistan's 35 man squad for their tour to New Zealand. In October 2021. He was named in the Pakistan Shaheens squad for their tour of Sri Lanka.

In August 2022 he was named in Pakistan's ODI squad, for their tour of the Netherlands. He made his ODI debut on 16 August 2022 for Pakistan against the Netherlands. During the last ODI, Naseem took his maiden fifer in ODIs.

Later the same month he was named in Pakistan's T20I squad for the 2022 Asia Cup. He made his T20I debut on 28 August 2022 against India.

On 7 September 2022 Naseem Shah made history by delivering 2 sixes against Afghanistan to save Pakistan from a defeat and help qualify for the finals.

In September 2022 he was named in Pakistan's T20i squad for England's tour of Pakistan. In October 2022 Naseem was named in Pakistan's T20i squad for the Tri Series in New Zealand. Later in October Naseem was named in Pakistan's T20i squad for the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. He had a proficient run in the World Cup and helped Pakistan qualify for the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final but sadly losing it.

In November 2022 he was named in Pakistan's Test squad for England's tour of Pakistan. After the first match. Naseem suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the series.

In December 2022 he was named in Pakistan’s Test squad for New Zealand's tour of Pakistan and later for the ODI squad in January 2023. In the first ODI against New Zealand Naseem took his second fifer in ODIs and a consecutive fifer.