"Sooner or later Naseem Shah will suffer a very serious injury" : Sarfraz Nawaz

[Saj]

I interviewed Sarfraz Nawaz recently for Wisden about his career and towards the end of the interview he spoke about Naseem Shah.

It was interesting hearing his views as he said that Naseem should be nowhere near international cricket at the moment and should still be learning the art of pace-bowling in domestic cricket and building his strength and stamina in domestic cricket. He added that whilst Naseem has shown promise, he is simply not ready physically or mentally for the challenges of international cricket, and that PCB could cut short his career if they continue to play him.

He also said that Naseem's a serious injury waiting to happen, as his body cannot cope with the speeds he has been pushing himself to bowl and that is why his pace has reduced recently.

He added that a lot is being expected of Naseem, too soon and he is being pushed too much by the coaching staff, rather than letting his body be fully ready for the challenges of Test cricket.

 

[Shoaib88]

He is exactly right. I was also going to be writing a post about this soon. Naseem is too raw for tests. It is ridiculous how Pakistan's player management operates. They are clueless about their jobs.

 

[guldozer]

Spot on.

 

[mazkhan]

The thing is naseem is not a 17 yr old he is a massive age fudger

He is around 22 - 25 yrs old and is in his prime

So this injury thing doesn't wash ,
You have footballers who play a much tougher sport playing at much younger age and are regulars in first team .

 

[ask_analyse_act]

I was calling for the same. His bowling action is not smooth and it is still the same looks like more severely bending his back now before bowling.

 

[UzmanBeast]

The last thing Naseem needs is a back sprain to push him out of the side and out of domestic cricket for a year.

He should be given a break and be sent back to domestic until he can prove that he can bowl consistently when given the ball.

 

[Pacy with wisdom]

The thing is naseem is not a 17 yr old he is a massive age fudger

He is around 22 - 25 yrs old and is in his prime

So this injury thing doesn't wash ,
You have footballers who play a much tougher sport playing at much younger age and are regulars in first team .

Brah, why stop there? He is 30.

 

[Titan24]

Regarding him being transitioned early from domestic cricket, I have been saying that for sometime now. Still waiting to see accountability of management as there is no way they can justify some of the selections and fast tracking they have done. You shouldn’t be mismanaging career of players by having a narrow vision of the things. This year could easily have been his second FC season and he could have had 13-14 FC under his belt before making a test debut or even more if required.

He has been fast tracked and has played 8 tests now so not sure what exactly will be good for his development, maybe remaining with the national team and playing FC cricket when he gets an opportunity.

 

[Bewal Express]

Most young fast bowlers get injuries. It's a miracle if he doesn't. He is nothing without his pace because his skill levels outside his pace are minimal and his lack of height means back of a length is out of the question.

 

[MMHS]

He is just not good enough- let’s be honest here. All the hypes here was mainly due to him being 16 & indeed if a kid bowls 145-46 km at the age of 16, you should be excited. He is not tall enough, neither skilled enough and probably a programmed bowling machine is more intelligent than Naseem - on top of that a massive age cheater - together all four, a deadly combination.

It’s statistically proven that most fast bowlers are fastest at their biological age between 23-25, after that few can sustain that pace for few more years, but most goes for adding skill, keeping the pace at a very respectable level. According to Asif, Naseem already has crossed that age but I guess he was exaggerating out of frustration, still I believe there is a good 6-7 years buffer in certified age, means Naseem might not be faster than 140-45km range and he hasn’t developed much skills, neither experienced enough. Next time he gets injured, it’ll be a tough return for him, because this time he is exposed - won’t get a free ride.

 

[Hyperion66]

Regarding him being transitioned early from domestic cricket, I have been saying that for sometime now. Still waiting to see accountability of management as there is no way they can justify some of the selections and fast tracking they have done. You shouldn’t be mismanaging career of players by having a narrow vision of the things. This year could easily have been his second FC season and he could have had 13-14 FC under his belt before making a test debut or even more if required.

He has been fast tracked and has played 8 tests now so not sure what exactly will be good for his development, maybe remaining with the national team and playing FC cricket when he gets an opportunity.

Fast tracking has its own benefits but for once in a generation type players which Naseem is not from what I have seen. Then again I am no expert, he may fizzle out in a few years, have a very average career or become a world-beater, we will have to wait and watched. Purely based on my observation if you take the age factor out of his bowling, due to doubts associated with it, he is nothing special.

 

[JattMaula]

The thing is naseem is not a 17 yr old he is a massive age fudger

He is around 22 - 25 yrs old and is in his prime

So this injury thing doesn't wash ,
You have footballers who play a much tougher sport playing at much younger age and are regulars in first team .

A test fast bowler needs lot more indurance per test than 2-3 90 min football games.

 

[Saj]

Think about if Naseem was in England, Australia or India he would be playing in domestic cricket, for the Under 19s or the A team, toughening up, learning about pace bowling and nowhere near the national team.

Maybe we have become too desperate.

 

[Savak]

Maybe Pakistan should have given Nasim a chance in odis and T20s first. Surely Nasim can develop his strength and conditioning in the gym

 

[MMHS]

Think about if Naseem was in England, Australia or India he would be playing in domestic cricket, for the Under 19s or the A team, toughening up, learning about pace bowling and nowhere near the national team.

Maybe we have become too desperate.

Indeed he would have played for British Schools (U16), U18, County Second XI (or University games), then County and finally Test cricket ...... only that he would have played U16 about 7-9 years back ......

 

[FreakCricket]

Why I keep hearing this name, is he pitching at 150? He is just another bowler who will get lost in the system, he ain't special what we have seen so far.

 

[Markhor]

I'm glad there's a consensus emerging in Pak cricket circles against fast-track selections. Aamer Sohail, Mohammad Asif and now Sarfraz Nawaz openly criticising it.

Hopefully new CS Mohammad Wasim will give due merit to domestic performances and end this fast-track policy.

 

[Bigboii]

not worried about Naseem, actually worried about SSA

they play him everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE and in every format not to forget that he plays any league he can get his hands on

they'll cripple the poor guy with some real bad injury and with Waqar I get no sense of workload management

 

[Khan12]

He is just not good enough- let’s be honest here. All the hypes here was mainly due to him being 16 & indeed if a kid bowls 145-46 km at the age of 16, you should be excited. He is not tall enough, neither skilled enough and probably a programmed bowling machine is more intelligent than Naseem - on top of that a massive age cheater - together all four, a deadly combination.

It’s statistically proven that most fast bowlers are fastest at their biological age between 23-25, after that few can sustain that pace for few more years, but most goes for adding skill, keeping the pace at a very respectable level. According to Asif, Naseem already has crossed that age but I guess he was exaggerating out of frustration, still I believe there is a good 6-7 years buffer in certified age, means Naseem might not be faster than 140-45km range and he hasn’t developed much skills, neither experienced enough. Next time he gets injured, it’ll be a tough return for him, because this time he is exposed - won’t get a free ride.

As rubbbish he is he will comfortably walk into you team without any problem and thats a fact. I mean after all rubel still plays for yoyr team.

 

[Bewal Express]

Think about if Naseem was in England, Australia or India he would be playing in domestic cricket, for the Under 19s or the A team, toughening up, learning about pace bowling and nowhere near the national team.

Maybe we have become too desperate.

Just imagine if he wasn't playing and the likes of Amad Butt bowling at 82mph were chosen. The abuse Misbah would receive be nothing like anything we have seen. There is no doubt that he has regressed and that's why we are talking.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

not worried about Naseem, actually worried about SSA

they play him everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE and in every format not to forget that he plays any league he can get his hands on

they'll cripple the poor guy with some real bad injury and with Waqar I get no sense of workload management

This. Dude's being bowling into the ground by being played in all formats and everyone's talking about naseem.

 

[Bigboii]

Indeed he would have played for British Schools (U16), U18, County Second XI (or University games), then County and finally Test cricket ...... only that he would have played U16 about 7-9 years back ......

oh come on dude WHAT!!

I don't know where you are making up these numbers
is it because of his physique?
well athletes are supposed to look like that
I was this skinny kid playing football with absolute giant tanks and was getting butchered out there so I had to bulk up or I was out of the team or near a life threatening injury
So in about 6-8 months I gained 25-35 pounds and my physique got bigger than his

SO he can easily get that big with discipline age honestly doesn't matter all that much
But does that mean I became 28 y/o hell no! but the way you are judging him I (and tons of other athletes in US) would also end up as a 28 y/o men

You think desis cant get that kind of Physique
well I would respectfully disagree with you in Pakistan (Punjab, KPK) normal people have physiques comparable to people in North America in terms of Physical appearance (not height)

Is it because of facial hairs?
people can get facial hairs early I had a full set of facial hair in High schools so did most of the desis (Pakistanis didn't happen with other people not even white people) I knew in high school

now I am not delusional I know he cheated with age but 7-8 years is WAY too much exaggeration for my liking

 

[Markhor]

not worried about Naseem, actually worried about SSA

they play him everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE and in every format not to forget that he plays any league he can get his hands on

they'll cripple the poor guy with some real bad injury and with Waqar I get no sense of workload management

There was zero need for him to play vs ZIM but trust the PE teachers Midbah and Waqar to run him into the ground.

 

[Saj]

Just imagine if he wasn't playing and the likes of Amad Butt bowling at 82mph were chosen. The abuse Misbah would receive be nothing like anything we have seen. There is no doubt that he has regressed and that's why we are talking.

The concern is that the kid is being picked regularly for Tests at this age when he has already had injuries.

Surely the think-tank needs to be smarter, with one eye on his future.

 

[Shazzam]

As rubbbish he is he will comfortably walk into you team without any problem and thats a fact. I mean after all rubel still plays for yoyr team.

This cracked me up. No way is he walking into the Bangladesh team. They have better fast bowlers than him.

 

[Pacy with wisdom]

This cracked me up. No way is he walking into the Bangladesh team. They have better fast bowlers than him.

We saw how good they were in comparison to Naseem, when they toured last year.
So you should be concerned at your cracking up after reading a reasonably true statement.

 

[Mamoon]

He is just not good enough- let’s be honest here. All the hypes here was mainly due to him being 16 & indeed if a kid bowls 145-46 km at the age of 16, you should be excited. He is not tall enough, neither skilled enough and probably a programmed bowling machine is more intelligent than Naseem - on top of that a massive age cheater - together all four, a deadly combination.

It’s statistically proven that most fast bowlers are fastest at their biological age between 23-25, after that few can sustain that pace for few more years, but most goes for adding skill, keeping the pace at a very respectable level. According to Asif, Naseem already has crossed that age but I guess he was exaggerating out of frustration, still I believe there is a good 6-7 years buffer in certified age, means Naseem might not be faster than 140-45km range and he hasn’t developed much skills, neither experienced enough. Next time he gets injured, it’ll be a tough return for him, because this time he is exposed - won’t get a free ride.

Calling a nothing bowler like Naseem “talented” shows the mentality of Pakistan cricket fans and their understanding of the game.

 

[Shazzam]

We saw how good they were in comparison to Naseem, when they toured last year.
So you should be concerned at your cracking up after reading a reasonably true statement.

Oh really what has Naseem done thats so ground breaking?

 

[Pacy with wisdom]

He is just not good enough- let’s be honest here. All the hypes here was mainly due to him being 16 & indeed if a kid bowls 145-46 km at the age of 16, you should be excited. He is not tall enough, neither skilled enough and probably a programmed bowling machine is more intelligent than Naseem - on top of that a massive age cheater - together all four, a deadly combination.

It’s statistically proven that most fast bowlers are fastest at their biological age between 23-25, after that few can sustain that pace for few more years, but most goes for adding skill, keeping the pace at a very respectable level. According to Asif, Naseem already has crossed that age but I guess he was exaggerating out of frustration, still I believe there is a good 6-7 years buffer in certified age, means Naseem might not be faster than 140-45km range and he hasn’t developed much skills, neither experienced enough. Next time he gets injured, it’ll be a tough return for him, because this time he is exposed - won’t get a free ride.

I love these micro novels that you put out.. So creative, and the conclusions are so conveniently thought out with your imagination to suit a narrative.

In all seriousness, the majority of the analysis you put out these days is extremely simplified, lazy and based off of conjecture.

You used to be better than this in the past.

 

[MMHS]

oh come on dude WHAT!!

I don't know where you are making up these numbers
is it because of his physique?
well athletes are supposed to look like that
I was this skinny kid playing football with absolute giant tanks and was getting butchered out there so I had to bulk up or I was out of the team or near a life threatening injury
So in about 6-8 months I gained 25-35 pounds and my physique got bigger than his

SO he can easily get that big with discipline age honestly doesn't matter all that much
But does that mean I became 28 y/o hell no! but the way you are judging him I (and tons of other athletes in US) would also end up as a 28 y/o men

You think desis cant get that kind of Physique
well I would respectfully disagree with you in Pakistan (Punjab, KPK) normal people have physiques comparable to people in North America in terms of Physical appearance (not height)

Is it because of facial hairs?
people can get facial hairs early I had a full set of facial hair in High schools so did most of the desis (Pakistanis didn't happen with other people not even white people) I knew in high school

now I am not delusional I know he cheated with age but 7-8 years is WAY too much exaggeration for my liking

Delusion of Pakistani people is breaking every bounds each day. Did you ever check where the average height & weight of Pakistani kids going? What’s the average protein intake? Normal Pakistanis (Punjabis comparable to North American is a bit ... you know).

I guess, we are back to the same circle - Pakistani gin, natural talunt ..... long may it continue, I don’t mind.

 

[MMHS]

I love these micro novels that you put out.. So creative, and the conclusions are so conveniently thought out with your imagination to suit a narrative.

In all seriousness, the majority of the analysis you put out these days is extremely simplified, lazy and based off of conjecture.

You used to be better than this in the past.

I won’t mind to be proven wrong when 25 years old Naseem blows Australia in 2028 with his pace & guile - let’s wait then.

 

[Rana]

I think Professor Mohammad Asif from the University of Amsterdam, who has also achieved his postgrad from the institution of Jonny Walker black label has exposed the real age of Naseem Shah.

We should use Asif’s Testimony to destroy any credible claim about Naseem’s true age, as a once in a lifetime sober scholar has provided the final verdict.

 

[MMHS]

As rubbbish he is he will comfortably walk into you team without any problem and thats a fact. I mean after all rubel still plays for yoyr team.

Last week Tabish Khan, Ziaul Haq, Taj Wali .... etc were walking into Bangladesh team .... it’s a massive improvement I can see - that’s after one Test in NZ.... imagine what will happen after next Australian tour!!!!!

Long may this improvement continues ....

 

[Bewal Express]

The concern is that the kid is being picked regularly for Tests at this age when he has already had injuries.

Surely the think-tank needs to be smarter, with one eye on his future.

His workload has to be managed but how is it going to help if he bowls 10s of overs in Domestic cricket? The only reason the issue has arisen is because his bowling is average in the test team.

 

[Bewal Express]

I think Professor Mohammad Asif from the University of Amsterdam, who has also achieved his postgrad from the institution of Jonny Walker black label has exposed the real age of Naseem Shah.

We should use Asif’s Testimony to destroy any credible claim about Naseem’s true age, as a once in a lifetime sober scholar has provided the final verdict.

If the others are anything go by he will be in the 20-21 range

 

[Saj]

His workload has to be managed but how is it going to help if he bowls 10s of overs in Domestic cricket? The only reason the issue has arisen is because his bowling is average in the test team.

In a proper and professional environment he would have a short term and long term plan regarding his career - which series he will play in, when he should play domestic cricket, which domestic tournament he should be playing etc.

There has to be proper planning or he will become another Mohammad Zahid.

 

[ethan hunt]

He is not a finished article and that is to be expected but the guy just needs to get his pace back up and find the optimum test match line. The experts in this thread will look very silly.

 

[Khan12]

Last week Tabish Khan, Ziaul Haq, Taj Wali .... etc were walking into Bangladesh team .... it’s a massive improvement I can see - that’s after one Test in NZ.... imagine what will happen after next Australian tour!!!!!

Long may this improvement continues ....

If guys are playing rubel and some of the other which we saw last time no reason why this improvement can't continue....

You 3 fast bowlers who played against us and their averages are

89
76
32

You see that's why I think the likes of zia etc will walk into your team.

 

[Savak]

Mike Tyson had an insane Physique at the age of 16 and by the time he turned pro at 19 his physical development was unparalleled and unheard of for someone his age. Was he an age fudger too.

For the record, I don't buy Nasim Shah being 17. I believe he is 20-21 years old and his Physique atm is appropriate for a 20-21 year old individual

 

[MenInG]

Some basics of public discourse for you all

1. Express your opinions but no need to get personal
2. No need to comment on fans/posters on PP - state your view or pick apart another's view and that's it.

 

[Savak]

So much criticism for a bowler who is currently in bad form. This is Cricket it happens. He promised on the tour of Australia, he performed well against Sri Lanka and then Bangladesh (not that the team is anything to write home about) but sadly since then has had a poor tour of England and now NZ. Because of the loss of bowling form, he will likely be sent back to domestic cricket to work on his issues and to make a comeback after getting heaps of wickets

 

[MMHS]

If guys are playing rubel and some of the other which we saw last time no reason why this improvement can't continue....

You 3 fast bowlers who played against us and their averages are

89
76
32

You see that's why I think the likes of zia etc will walk into your team.

Some Mohammad Sami can play 36 Tests for Pakistan with an average of 53 .... and you are talking this. You see, why Pakistan cricket is heading to the direction ...

 

[Mamoon]

He is not a finished article and that is to be expected but the guy just needs to get his pace back up and find the optimum test match line. The experts in this thread will look very silly.

View attachment 105786

The desperation of Naseem fans is reaching new heights every day. I understand - it happens when you emotionally invest so much in a player.

Pakistani fans put all their eggs in the Naseem basket and hyped him to the point where he almost became a messiah type figure that is destined to rescue Pakistan fast bowling.

Now that the reality is slowly and painfully dawning on them that he is not the bowler they think he was and will not have the illustrious career that they were fantasizing about 12 months ago, their coping mechanism is to keep lowering the bar.

First, he was expected to blow England away and become the leading wicket-taker of the series. However, after taking 3 wickets in 3 Tests at an average of 70+, the same fans start to rave about the two good deliveries that he bowled to Joe Root and the one good delivery he bowled to Ollie Pope.

Now when this drama of him showcasing his brilliant talent by taking wickets of high-ranked batsmen ends, a new criteria will be invented.

His talent will then be justified by the number of top order wickets he takes, by the number of wickets of 35+ averaging batsmen,......by the number of times he made a batsman play and miss.

They will keep lowering the ball until he gets dropped. Then they will blame Misbah and Waqar for destroying this talented youngster.

 

[Rana]

If guys are playing rubel and some of the other which we saw last time no reason why this improvement can't continue....

You 3 fast bowlers who played against us and their averages are

89
76
32

You see that's why I think the likes of zia etc will walk into your team.

Those are some world class stats. You don’t know what you are talking about.

 

[Hyperion66]

not worried about Naseem, actually worried about SSA

they play him everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE and in every format not to forget that he plays any league he can get his hands on

they'll cripple the poor guy with some real bad injury and with Waqar I get no sense of workload management

I agree. The amount of workload and responsibility that Shaheen's been taking of late is impressive to say the least. He may not be as talented as 19 year old Amir but kid got a bigger heart and significantly more brain cells.

 

[Rana]

Thank God Mohammad Sami never played a Test match against Bangladesh in his lifetime. Otherwise his average of 52 could will have been 84 or something...

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Small injuries are common with young bowlers. His body is still developing. It doesn't mean you have to send him back to domestic. Just monitor him closely.

 

[Savak]

Small injuries are common with young bowlers. His body is still developing. It doesn't mean you have to send him back to domestic. Just monitor him closely.

I think the assessment that NS is not ready for international cricket is correct. I would rather the PCB restrict him to ODI's, T-20 cricket and get him on a proper strength, conditioning, nutrition program at the NCA and for NS to play plenty of 4 day cricket and do what Hasan Ali has done i.e. pick up wickets in heaps before he can be considered for test duty again. Better to give someone else a chance at this point

 

[Rana]

Watch my boy Naseem Shah take 80 wickets by his 19th Test InshaAllah

 

[Saj]

He's already had groin injuries, rib problems and back issues.

A proper plan needs to be made for Naseem for the next 2 or 3 years which outlines which series he will play in and which domestic competitions he should play in and which should be rest periods for him.

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

for the first time, he is 100% spot on

 

[ARK Rafay]

He is right though. It is not Naseem's fault if he isn't delivering in International Cricket. No one at his age is being expected to deliver like that. Everyone else is playing domestic cricket. Either you play him domestic or play him international cricket with care and without much expectations for the following years (which lets be honest is not a good think for Pakistan team)

 

[Saj]

for the first time, he is 100% spot on

Depends what he is asked. Too often people ask him controversial and stupid questions and responds accordingly.

If he is asked proper questions regarding cricket, particularly pace-bowling, his knowledge is vast and very impressive.

 

[Usman Chadda]

The people bashing Naseem here, will be the same ones who will call for him to be brought back once they see 120 KPH pies being dismissed to the boundary.

I'm concerned about the drop in speed, nothing else. You can't expect this kid with hardly any first-class experience to uproot good batting line-ups in their own conditions. It's not as if the 'world-class' SSA is doing much in Test cricket aswell, neither is the most experienced pace bowler in our team.

People with agendas are picking on Naseem, conveniently ignoring the lack of pace bowling options and the consistent failures of your 'world-class' and experienced fast bowlers.

 

[mahmed]

Mike Tyson had an insane Physique at the age of 16 and by the time he turned pro at 19 his physical development was unparalleled and unheard of for someone his age. Was he an age fudger too.

For the record, I don't buy Nasim Shah being 17. I believe he is 20-21 years old and his Physique atm is appropriate for a 20-21 year old individual

Age fudging in the subcontinent is common, I can agree that Naseem Shah being at 20-21 but for sure he is not 17, at the moment, and fudging 7-8 years in the age is not possible and it is too much of exaggeration.

 

[Shazzam]

Watch my boy Naseem Shah take 80 wickets by his 19th Test InshaAllah

I hope your boy does not break down soon before that moment comes.

 

[Rana]

I hope your boy does not break down soon before that moment comes.

He will be fine. If he didn’t break down when his mother passed away and he was stuck abroad, I’m sure he will deal with such hurdles as well

 

[Ertugrul_Bey]

When your dressing room is full of unqualified coaching staff and yes that includes Younis Khan as well, there will be plenty of career that will be ruined. I am more worried about Shaheen than Naseem. SSA is our key bowler and his workload should have been managed long ago but he’s been thrown in every single game by Misbah. The fast tracking of players who haven’t played any FC cricket must also be put to stop as it is destroying to future talent. Abdullah Shafiq, Haider Ali, Musa
, Naseem and so many others touring have barley played any domestic cricket. Their mental and physical structure is not ready for international cricket at least out side of subcontinent. Our last hope is Muhammad Wasim so let’s hope he brings in some sanity in selection criteria.

 

[shamaan]

���� So much criticism for a bowler who is currently in bad form. This is Cricket it happens. He promised on the tour of Australia, he performed well against Sri Lanka and then Bangladesh (not that the team is anything to write home about) but sadly since then has had a poor tour of England and now NZ. Because of the loss of bowling form, he will likely be sent back to domestic cricket to work on his issues and to make a comeback after getting heaps of wickets

I would keep him around the test squad but manage his workload as i belive thiere nothing happening apart from the 50 over format.

 

[shamaan]

naseem shah should stil be around the squad hes good enough but i will manage his workload and rotate the bowlers

 

[Sunny_majoka]

If not naseem then who,? You don't have any starc ,pat cummins trolling in domestic cricket