Naseem Shah

Naseem Shah is a Pakistani international cricketer who rose to prominence as a fast bowler. He earned his Test debut against Australia in November 2019 at the age of 16. This achievement made him the ninth-youngest player to debut in Test cricket.

Early life and education

Naseem Shah was born on 15 February 2003 in Mayar Jandool, which is a town located in the Lower Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He belongs to a Pashtun family and speaks both Pashto and Urdu fluently. His professional journey began after he played tape ball cricket for several years in his hometown. At age 13, his uncle enrolled him in the Abdul Qadir Cricket Academy in Lahore. There, he received coaching from Sulaman Qadir before being selected for the Lahore Under-16 team. He eventually joined the Pakistan Under-16 team at age 14.

His father, Abbas Shah, initially opposed his cricket career because he wanted Naseem to focus on his studies. Naseem completed his education up to the tenth grade. Following this, his father expressed a desire for him to find work abroad.

Career

Shah entered domestic cricket through Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited. He made his first-class debut in the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on 1 September 2018. His List A debut followed on 16 October 2018. In October 2019, the Pakistan Cricket Board named him as one of six players to watch for the National T20 Cup. He played his first Twenty20 match for Central Punjab on 13 October 2019.

His international ascent was rapid. After being called up for a Test series against Australia in October 2019, he made his debut on 21 November 2019. During this period, former England captain Michael Vaughan noted that the teenager reached speeds of 147 km/h. In December 2019, Shah took a five-wicket haul during the second Test against Sri Lanka. This feat made him the youngest pace bowler to achieve such a result in a Test match. He later became the youngest bowler to take a Test hat-trick on 9 February 2020 against Bangladesh.

Shah has also competed in various franchise leagues. He played for Quetta Gladiators from 2019 to 2023 before being traded to Islamabad United. On 11 February 2026, the Rawalpindi franchise signed him for PKR 8.65 crore. This transaction made him the most expensive player in the first Pakistan Super League auction. He also played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and Welsh Fire in England.

In the limited-overs format, he made his ODI debut against the Netherlands on 16 August 2022. His T20I debut occurred on 28 August 2022, during a match against India. He was a member of the Pakistan squad that reached the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final. In May 2024, he returned to represent Pakistan in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Personal life

Naseem is part of a family with several cricketers. He has two sisters and four brothers. His younger brother, Hunain Shah, is a first-class fast bowler. His youngest brother, Ubaid Shah, also plays as a fast bowler and represented the Pakistan U19 team at the 2024 U19 World Cup. Tragically, his mother passed away in 2019, just one day before his Test debut.

Awards and recognition

In February 2023, Shah received the honorary rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) within the Balochistan Police. High-level officials attended the ceremony in Quetta to present this rank. He expressed pride in serving as an ambassador for the province.