Fast bowler Naseem Shah took a wicket with just his fifth legitimate delivery as Pakistan began their much-anticipated home international cricket season against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, 9 October. It was his first appearance for Pakistan in seven months, and he finished with figures of three for 36 from four overs.
The right-arm pacer has a strong record at the same ground. In February 2020, while playing only his fourth match for Pakistan, he became the youngest bowler to take a hat-trick in Test cricket, aged 16 years and 359 days, during Bangladesh’s innings at the venue.
Naseem Shah’s return with three for 36 in Rawalpindi
Naseem is now three months short of his 24th birthday. He has played 93 international matches and taken 155 wickets. In an interview with PCB Digital, he reflected on how his approach has changed since his early days at the top level.
“You change a lot as a human being and a cricketer (as you age) with maturity levels and experience enhancing,” he said. He added that experience through the ups and downs of life had taught him that a young bowler’s express pace must be balanced with judgement about what he is trying to achieve.
In the opening T20I, he set the tone early. He first induced a false shot from visiting captain Kusal Mendis off a 136.9 kmph delivery, which was caught at third. Later, with Sri Lanka looking to attack the final 10 balls of their innings, he uprooted Dunith Wellalage’s leg stump with a full ball clocked at 141.9 kmph. Two balls later, he stopped Lahiru Udara on 91, as the batter holed out to long-on while attempting a yorker.
Injury setbacks and the road back from a back problem
Naseem has spent long periods on the sidelines during a career that has now lasted seven years. His most significant absence came when he missed the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The latest setback came during the HBL PSL 2026, when he suffered a back injury that ruled him out of the tournament.
Reflecting on his recovery, he said, “You go back to zero whenever you are injured and sometimes it doesn’t even allow you to go for a run let alone going through the motions of the game.” He stressed the importance of the rehabilitation programme and of understanding one’s body during those periods. He also credited a good medical team with helping him through.
He was not among the wicket-takers in the second T20I. His two powerplay overs cost nine runs, and Sri Lanka subsequently collapsed in the chase. Asked how a bowler can succeed in fast-paced modern cricket, Naseem said bowlers must “toy with a batter’s mindset” because of the nature of pitches around the world and the focus on entertainment through high-scoring matches. He said bowlers in these times need to become more skilful and well-rounded.
ODI record and the path to the 2027 World Cup
Naseem is also part of Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming ODI tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka. The Shaheen Shah Afridi-led side is set to begin preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. Pakistan’s campaign at that tournament starts on 8 October 2027 against Afghanistan, and Naseem is keen to make his first appearance at the event in that format.
He has played 34 ODIs, taking 60 wickets at an average of 25.91 and a strike rate of 28.3. He has two five-wicket hauls. The first was 5-33 against Netherlands in August 2022, in only his third ODI. In his next ODI, against New Zealand in January 2023, he returned 5-57, becoming only the sixth Pakistan bowler to take at least two consecutive five-wicket hauls in the format.
Looking ahead, Naseem said he feels he has yet to reach his best. “I feel I’m yet to play my peak cricket,” he said. He admitted that he felt he had lacked some things in the cricket he had played so far, especially in Test cricket. His aim, he said, is to perform so well that he does not need to talk about his goals. He also pointed to fewer injuries and good rhythm as the keys to his form.
