Naseem Shah Returns With Three Wickets for Pakistan

Fast bowler Naseem Shah returned to Pakistan colours after a gap of seven months in the opening T20I against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and needed only five legitimate deliveries to take the first wicket. He finished with figures of 3 for 36 in his four overs.

A Familiar Ground

Rawalpindi is where Naseem, in only his fourth match for Pakistan in February 2020, became the youngest bowler to take a Test hat-trick, at 16 years and 359 days. Now three months short of his 24th birthday, he has played 93 international matches and taken 155 wickets.

The Wickets

He first got Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis to hit a false shot off a 136.9 kmph delivery, then uprooted Dunith Wellalage’s leg stump with a 141.9 kmph full ball. Two balls later, he had Lahiru Udara caught at long-on while attempting a yorker.

His Outlook

In an interview with PCB Digital, Naseem said a bowler needs more than raw pace as he matures and must also think about the batter’s mindset in modern white-ball cricket. On returning from setbacks, he said rehabilitation and a good medical team are crucial. Looking ahead, he said he feels he is yet to play his peak cricket.

ODI Record and Next Assignment

Naseem is in the squad for the ODI tri-series with England and Sri Lanka, as Pakistan begin preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. In 34 ODIs he has 60 wickets at an average of 25.91 and a strike rate of 28.3, including two five-wicket hauls: 5 for 33 against the Netherlands in August 2022 and 5 for 57 against New Zealand in January 2023. Pakistan’s World Cup campaign begins against Afghanistan on October 8, 2027.