Tag: Naseem Shah

Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah has joined the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the 2025 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), replacing South Africa’s Corbin Bosch in the squad.

The CPL’s 13th season will kick off on August 14, 2025, with the Patriots opening the tournament against Antigua & Barbuda Falcons.

Naseem, who last featured in the CPL in 2021 for the same franchise, played a key role in their title-winning campaign.

He picked up six wickets in seven matches that season, maintaining an economy of 7.68. His 2-26 in the final was a standout effort as the Patriots lifted their maiden CPL trophy.

Over the years, Naseem Shah has gained considerable experience in franchise cricket, having appeared in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Lanka Premier League (LPL), and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

However, his availability for this year’s CPL remains uncertain due to Pakistan’s packed international calendar.

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The national team is scheduled to tour the West Indies for white-ball fixtures, take part in a tri-nation series with Afghanistan and the UAE, and then gear up for the Asia Cup 2025 in September.

Besides Naseem Shah, four more Pakistani cricketers are set to feature in the CPL 2025.

Veteran left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has been picked by Trinbago Knight Riders, his fourth team in the CPL since 2021. Amir has already played 39 matches in the tournament, bagging 51 wickets at an average of 18.09.

Spin bowler Usman Tariq, who impressed in PSL 2024 and 2025, is set to make his CPL debut for the Knight Riders.

Meanwhile, All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz will also be turning out for the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, making his first appearance in the league.

Imad Wasim returns to Antigua and Barbuda Falcons after being released and later re-signed by the franchise ahead of the players’ draft.

Pakistan players to feature in CPL 2025

Naseem Shah, Mohammad Nawaz (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots), Imad Wasim (Antigua and Barbuda Falcons), Mohammad Amir and Usman Tariq (Trinbago Knight Riders).

READ: Former captain lauds Sahibzada Farhan’s ‘body language’ against Bangladesh

Former Test pacer Tanvir Ahmed has come down hard on the selection committee for picking Naseem Shah in the national squad despite his lacklustre performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

In a recent interview on a local sports platform, Tanvir didn’t mince his words when scrutinising Naseem’s selection for the T20I series against Bangladesh, a series in which the pacer didn’t even play a single game.

“If you picked Naseem Shah for the Bangladesh series and didn’t play him, then why was he picked?” Tanvir asked.

“His performance in the PSL was completely poor. Just look at his fitness level, his run-up while running, and his energy. He’s not even putting in any effort. He has injury issues, so how did he make it into the team?”

Tanvir Ahmed also hinted at potential favouritism, suggesting Naseem’s association with Islamabad United may have influenced the decision-makers.

“That’s why people are talking — saying it’s Islamabad United’s influence,” he said.

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“When your head coach and other selected players are also linked to the same franchise, then questions will naturally be raised.”

He further pointed out how consistent performers like Mir Hamza and Mohammad Abbas Afridi were overlooked, despite being in top form.

“On merit, Naseem Shah doesn’t deserve to be in the team right now,” Tanvir Ahmed asserted.

“In the PSL, Mir Hamza was performing really well, so why wasn’t he selected? Abbas Afridi was ignored too, and only brought in when Wasim Jr got injured.”

For the unversed, Naseem Shah had a modest PSL 10 campaign, managing just nine wickets in 10 matches with an economy rate of 9.30.

READ: Jason Gillespie comments on Mike Hesson’s appointment as Pakistan head coach

HAMILTON: Pakistan pace bowler Naseem Shah etched his name in the record books with his gutsy batting performance during the second ODI against New Zealand here at Seddon Park on Wednesday.

Despite Pakistan’s batting struggles, Naseem provided a rare spark, scoring his maiden ODI half-century and becoming the second-highest run-scorer from the No. 11 position in ODI history.

However, his efforts weren’t enough to save Pakistan from a thumping 84-run defeat, which handed New Zealand an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Chasing 293, Pakistan crumbled to 208 all out, with only Faheem Ashraf (73 off 80) and Naseem (51 off 44) offering resistance.

The duo stitched a crucial 60-run stand for the ninth wicket, briefly giving Pakistan a glimmer of hope.

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Naseem, who was initially rested due to a minor niggle, was brought in as a concussion substitute for Haris Rauf. His fearless knock, featuring four fours and four sixes, showcased his clean hitting under pressure.

His 51-run effort now stands as the second-highest individual score by a No. 11 batter in ODI history, behind only Mohammad Amir’s 58 against England in 2016.

Notably, the top three highest scores from this position all belong to Pakistani players, with Shoaib Akhtar’s 43 against England in 2003 rounding out the list.

With Pakistan already trailing 2-0 in the series, they now face the daunting task of avoiding a clean sweep in the final ODI, scheduled in Mount Maunganui on April 5.

Pakistan squad for ODI series against New Zealand

Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr., Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Haris Rauf, and Usman Khan.

READ: Haris Rauf, Salman Ali Agha rise in ICC ODI Rankings despite Pakistan’s struggles

Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah has expressed his disappointment over remarks made by former players amid the team’s poor performance, emphasizing how such comments can impact the players’ morale.

In a special Eid show released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Naseem and Fakhar were asked by the host, former pacer Wahab Riaz, about the reaction from fans and former cricketers when the Pakistan team is on the losing side.

“As a fan, if you watch cricket and someone says something that doesn’t make sense to you, you might think, ‘it’s okay, this person has never played cricket, ” said Naseem.

“When we go home, even our own brothers sometimes make comments that make us say, ‘Yeah, okay, they’ve never played cricket,” Naseem added.

Naseem Shah welcomed critical feedback on players’ performances but emphasized refraining from personal remarks.

“When it comes to players who have actually played cricket for 10-15 years, you can discuss their performance—talk about how someone isn’t bowling well, isn’t batting well, or what mistakes they’re making. That’s fine,” said Naseem.

“You can analyze what can be improved. However, I feel that getting too personal—commenting on how someone styles their hair or how they speak—crosses the line. These things hit personally,” he added.

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The 22-year-old views echo Fakhar Zaman, who highlighted the importance of respecting former cricketers amid harsh remarks.

Fakhar stated that when you’re playing, you’re often unaware of what people are saying. He quoted his injury instance during the Champions Trophy.

“When I was unfit during the Champions Trophy, I had time to observe and see what people were saying.”

“When you leave cricket and enter the media, I understand it’s your bread and butter. However, when you start criticizing the very thing that gave you the opportunity to sit on TV, you can’t expect to be successful in that field,” he remarked.

Fakhar Zaman stated that if someone who has played cricket offers criticism aimed at improving him, he takes it very positively and holds that person in high regard.

“If someone who has played cricket criticizes me fairly, I take it very positively and I have much more respect for that person, ” said Zaman

“But if someone makes personal remarks unrelated to my batting or playing ability, believe me, in my heart, that person earns less respect,” he concluded.

READ: Scott Boland gears up for WTC25 final amid injury recovery

LAHORE: Pakistan’s top batter Babar Azam and ace pacer Naseem Shah failed to impress on their return to the National T20 Cup as Karachi Whites secured a comprehensive victory against Lahore Blues here at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

The duo was rested for Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand after the national team’s disappointing performance in the recently concluded Champions Trophy.

Initially, there were reports that both players had opted out of the National T20 Cup. However, Naseem and Babar featured in the playing XI of Lahore Blues for their match against Karachi Whites.

Babar Azam and Naseem Shah both fell short of expectations, with Babar scoring a scratchy knock of 23 off 17 deliveries, while Naseem remained wicketless conceding 41 runs in his four overs.

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The home team was bundled out for 134 in 18.4 overs while chasing 172. This was Lahore’s first defeat in the 18-team tournament. Qasim Akram remained top scorer with his 36 off 28 deliveries, laced with four fours and one six.

For Karachi Whites, Arif Yaqoob was the stand-out bowler, taking four wickets for 23 runs in his four overs. Fast bowler Mohammad Umar and spinner Danish Aziz equally contributed to the victory, each claiming two wickets

Earlier, Karachi Blues posted a daunting total of 172 in their 20 overs, thanks to Saud Shakeel’s half-century.

The southpaw continued his good form, top-scoring with 73 off 52 balls striking eight fours and three sixes in his decisive knock.

In the final phase of the innings, Danish Aziz (23) and Saqib Khan (20) contributed with a quick-fire stand to help Karachi reach a formidable total.

For Lahore Blues, Qasim Akram, Mohammad Irfan, and Nisar Ahmed bagged one wicket each in their allocated overs.

READ: Pakistan’s kickboxer Agha Kaleem wins silver at World Muaythai Championship

Pakistan players are set to make a strong presence in The Hundred 2025 draft, with as many as 45 names officially registered, including star pacer Naseem Shah and young opener Saim Ayub.

The list features a combination of established stars and promising young talent, all eyeing a chance to compete in England’s fast-paced 100-ball tournament.

Leading the charge is pace sensation Naseem Shah, who enters the draft with the highest reserve price among Pakistani players—£120,000. Meanwhile, all-rounder Imad Wasim and explosive left-hander Saim Ayub have set their base price at £78,500.

The list also includes Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Hasnain, each carrying a £63,000 reserve price, while Mohammad Amir and Azam Khan have entered at £52,000.

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Left-handed batter Shan Masood has been listed at £41,500, whereas several others—including Mohammad Abbas, Haider Ali, and Ammad Butt—have registered but without a fixed reserve price.

With 348 players from around the world competing for just 10 available slots among eight franchises, the draft—set for March 12—is expected to be highly competitive.

The fifth edition of The Hundred kicks off on August 5 at Lord’s with an exciting London derby between London Spirit and Oval Invincibles, promising another thrilling season of high-intensity cricket.

Pakistan Players Registered for The Hundred 2025 Draft

Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Imad Wasim, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Zaman Khan, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Amir, Azam Khan, Shan Masood, Mohammad Abbas, Nauman Ali, Haider Ali, Mohammad Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Azan Awais, Ammad Butt, Ahmad Daniyal, Sahibzada Farhan, Sameen Gul, Muhammad Haris, Muhammad Imran Jr, Imam Insaram-Ul-Haq, Salman Irshad, Taijul Islam, Aamir Jamal, Sajid Khan, Usman Khan, Jahandad Khan, Haseebullah Khan, Irfan Khan Niazi, Chaudhry Saad Masood, Muhammad Musa, Khawaja Nafay, Rohail Nazir, Muhammad Nawaz, Abdullah Shafique, Hunain Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Talat, Ihsan Ullah, Amir Yamin, Mohammad Zeeshan.

READ: Mohammad Amir suggests THIS player to be Pakistan T20I captain

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez lashed out at pacers Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah over their recent struggles in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Pakistan suffered a crushing six-wicket defeat on Sunday against the arch-rivals India, leaving their title defence hanging by a thread.

While batting first, Pakistan managed a modest 241 before getting bowled out in the final over. In reply, India cruised to victory with 45 balls to spare, thanks to a masterclass from Virat Kohli, who notched up a brilliant century.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

After the match, Mohammad Hafeez called for major changes in Pakistan’s bowling attack, highlighting the recent failures of fast bowlers.

“The trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf failed to deliver in the 2023 Asia Cup, 50-over World Cup, T20 World Cup, and now in the Champions Trophy 2025,” Hafeez said.

“It’s time to acknowledge that, despite their talent, they haven’t proven themselves capable of winning big tournaments for Pakistan.

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“Let’s move on and give opportunities to other bowlers like Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Akif Javed, and Mir Hamza. These players are waiting for their chances—they are also Pakistani, and they deserve an opportunity.”

Mohammad Hafeez also drew comparisons between Babar Azam and former great Inzamam-ul-Haq. He pointed out that Babar has failed to produce a match-winning performance against India in a decade-long career.

“Inzamam bhai used to win matches for Pakistan in tough conditions. Babar Azam has not been able to win a single game against India after playing for 10 years,” Hafeez remarked.

READ: ‘Can’t have five genuine bowlers in ODIs’: Rizwan defends Pakistan’s team selection

KARACHI: Pakistan’s fast bowler, Naseem Shah, on Monday shed light on the national team’s preparation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the crucial match against South Africa in the ongoing tri-nation series.

Shah, while addressing the media ahead of the must-win encounter against South Africa at the rebuilt National Bank Stadium, admitted that the Men in Green did not perform according to the expectations in the series opener against New Zealand.

However, he expressed confidence in the bowling unit’s ability to make a comeback in the upcoming clash.

“Look, after just one match, you can’t think negatively as a fast bowler. In the last two series, our fast bowlers performed exceptionally well in Australia and South Africa,” said Shah.

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”Here, the conditions are not suitable for fast bowlers. The role of spinners is very important in these conditions,” the pacer remarked.

Speaking about his recent performances, Naseem Shah admitted that he had not been at his best in last few matches.

“To be honest, I am not performing the way I expect from myself,” he added.

While sharing his views on the much-anticipated match between Pakistan and India, Naseem Shah said that the team had not discussed it much yet.

Naseem Shah emphasised that Pakistan has the potential to bounce back despite the disappointing result in Lahore

“Our team has the potential to bounce back and play good cricket,” the fast bowler concluded.

It is pertinent to mention here that, New Zealand achieved a convincing victory against Pakistan by 78 runs in the first match of the tri-nation ODI series at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

Batting first, Phillips scored a fiery unbeaten ton after Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell’s fifties to power New Zealand to 330 over the loss of six wickets.

Chasing 331, Pakistan got off to a promising start with the new opening pair of Fakhar and Babar Azam putting together a brisk 52-run stand.

Fakhar Zaman was the only silver lining for Pakistan as they crumbled in chase, and were bowled out for 252 in 47.5 overs at Gaddafi Stadium.

Pakistan squad for tri-nation series and ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: PCB provides update on Haris Rauf’s injury ahead of Champions Trophy

Naseem Shah, the pace spearhead of Islamabad United, expressed excitement about playing with Australia’s Riley Meredith and Matthew Short in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10.

Short, who boasts an impressive strike rate of 146.46 in T20 cricket, was roped in by Islamabad United in the first round of the platinum category during the PSL 10 Player Draft.

Meanwhile, Meredith, who is a right-arm pacer, was picked later in the Supplementary category. He has picked 142 wickets across 113 T20 games at an average of 24.26.

“I’m really excited to see two players in particular joining Islamabad United this season: Riley Meredith and Matt Short,” Naseem Shah said in a statement released by Islamabad United.

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“Riley’s pace and bounce are something special, and I think he’s going to light up the league. Pakistani fans are passionate about fast bowling, and we love express pace—Riley fits that perfectly.

“What can I say? I’m just glad we won’t have to bowl to him [Short]! He has the ability to dismantle any attack in no time.

“He’s as destructive as they come, and I think he’ll absolutely love playing at our home ground in Rawalpindi.”

It’s worth noting that along with Meredith and Short, Islamabad United also picked Australian left-arm fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis, who has bagged 176 T20 wickets at an average of 22 in 140 games.

Islamabad United squad for PSL 10

Matthew Short, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan (all Platinum), Imad Wasim (mentor) and Azam Khan, Jason Holder (both Diamond), Ben Dwarhuis, Salman Ali Agha (Brand Ambassador) and Haider Ali (all Gold), Andries Gous, Colin Munro, Muhammad Nawaz and Rumman Raees, Salman Irshad (all Silver), Hunain Shah, Saad Masood (both Emerging)

Supplementary – Riley Meredith and Rassie van der Dussen

READ: PCB releases video showcasing progress of Gaddafi Stadium’s renovation

Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah has stated that the team’s spirited performance in the first ODI against Australia has boosted their confidence, which will help them make a strong comeback in the second ODI.

Pakistan lost the first ODI by two wickets at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) after a spirited performance with the ball while defending a modest 203-run total.

The second match of the series will be played on 8 November (tomorrow) in Adelaide, while Perth will host the third ODI on 10 November.

While talking to the media on Thursday in Adelaide, Naseem shared that the team discussed the shortcomings in the last match and will aim to win the second ODI to level the series.

“We have learned a lot from the last game and are working to rectify those lessons in the next game,” said Naseem.

“The entire team sat down and discussed ways to improve for upcoming matches. We analyzed our batting mistakes and aimed to improve them. Our bowling effort was fantastic, and we plan to enhance it further.”

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For the unversed, Naseem Shah was forced to leave the field after two balls into his eighth over due to cramps during the first ODI against Australia in Melbourne.

He spoke about his current fitness level, emphasizing that muscle cramps are a common occurrence that can strike any athlete, regardless of how fit or well-conditioned they may be.

“Alhamdulillah, I am completely fine. Cramps are a common thing; they can happen to anyone, whether a batter or a bowler, regardless of their fitness level,” the fast bowler remarked.

“Cramps can come up at any time, and they take some time to recover from. But now, I have fully recovered.”

Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against Australia

Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (vc) and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: Legendary Australian captain urges Babar Azam to follow Virat Kohli’s footsteps