Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah expressed the insecurities of the regular pace bowlers in the squad due to selection inconsistencies. However, Naseem faced a shoulder injury during the Asia Cup, forcing him to miss the ODI World Cup last year in India. Having only recently recovered from injury, he is playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). In an interaction with CricWick, he has shared this.

“Unfortunately, it is a bit different in Pakistan. Whenever a player comes from outside, is not a part of the playing eleven, and performs well in a match, even our main bowlers get worried thinking whether they will be able to play to the next game or now. There’s a fear and because of that, the bowlers don’t rest. When you rest, sometimes you end up resting in peace,” said Naseem Shah.

However, Pakistan has struggled in the absence of Naseem Shah, failing to qualify for the Asia Cup final and make it to the World Cup semi-final as well. They also faced a humiliating 0-3 series whitewash in Australia following the World Cup and lost the T20Is in New Zealand by
a 1-4 margin as well. Meanwhile, he praised his teammate and former captain Babar Azam.

“While Babar will definitely hit your bad ball for a boundary, even with a good delivery, you will hardly even feel that he would be dismissed easily. You have to be disciplined while bowling to him because he hits your good ball for a boundary in such a way that you almost feel it’s unfair,” Naseem Shah concluded.