Pakistan set to unleash 16-year-old fast bowler Naseem Shah on Australia

The fast bowler, who recently lost his mother back home, is all set to debut in the first Test against Australia at Brisbane starting on Thursday

Sixteen-year-old fast bowler Naseem Shah is ready to become the youngest cricketer ever to make his Test debut in Australia.

Naseem, born on Feb. 15, 2003, got plenty of attention in a tour game in Perth last week not only because he tested the resolve of some experienced international batsmen, but also because it came so soon after his mother died.

Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali is confident the teenage paceman is among a group of bowlers who can help end Pakistan’s long winless streak Down Under.

Flight logistics and religious customs meant Naseem couldn’t make it home in time for the funeral, so he stayed in Australia and skipped the first innings of the drawn tour game against Australia A before returning with a fiery eight overs in the second innings that netted 1-21, including the wicket of Test opener Marcus Harris.

“Obviously, it was a hard time for him, but he coped with it and he came out and bowled the very next day, which is very heartening,” Azhar said on Wednesday, on the eve of the first Test at the Gabba. “We will definitely be looking to play him. He is bowling really well.”

Azhar has played with Naseem at first-class level and thinks the young speedster has the fitness and the mental attitude to cope in the Test arena. And he is not concerned about the home team’s daunting record at the Gabba, where Australia is unbeaten since 1988.

“Not many players can reach (Test) standard so early, but there are exceptions and he is one of them,” Azhar said. “When I saw him first, I was so surprised. The control he had, the pace he had, and the temperament and the composure when he bowls is so exciting to see.”

Youngest players

Other Pakistan players have made Test debuts at a younger age, including fast bowler Aaqib Javed, who was 16 years, 189 days when he played against New Zealand in 1989. Ian Craig, at 17 years and 239 days, was the youngest Australian to make his Test debut when he started against South Africa in Melbourne in 1953.

Azhar said there is no reason to hold players back based only on their age.

“The good thing about (Naseem) is he is very fit. I have no doubts about his fitness and his bowling,” Azhar said, reflecting his general confidence in a Pakistan team that he doesn think will be overawed by Australia’s record at home.

Pakistan hasn’t won a Test match in Australia since 1995.

“We go in here with a lot of confidence. We have the talent to do well here. We’re very confident that if we execute our skills … (we can) beat Australia. To do that, I think we have to keep believing and also play with no fear.”

Along with veteran paceman Mohammad Abbas, a pair of 19-year-old pacemen are also in selection calculations, with left-armer Shaheen Shah Afridi taking 12 wickets in his three Tests to date and Muhammad Musa yet to make his debut.

While most of the selection focus has been on the fast bowlers, 33-year-old wrist-spinner Yasir Shah is likely to play an influential role in the series.

Warner’s form

The Australians will be playing a Test series for the first time since retaining the Ashes in England, where opening batsman David Warner averaged just 9.5 in the series. He and Steve Smith were making their Test match returns from a one-year ban following a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in 2018 and had contrasting series, with Smith topping the scoring and holding many innings together for Australia.

Warner will be combining with a recalled Joe Burns at the top of a reshuffled batting order, and Australia skipper Tim Paine is confident the veteran opener will be back in scoring form.

“Just watching him the last few days, he looks like he’s back to his best, the ball’s making a different sound off his bat again,” he said. “But the most pleasing thing about Davey was during the Ashes when he was in the worst form of his career he didn’t change a bit, and a lot of players would.”

Paine said Mitchell Starc was back approaching top form and he expected the left-arm paceman to play a leading role against Pakistan after missing selection for all but one of the Ashes Tests in England.

Starc and fellow pacemen Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will join spinner Nathan Lyon in a pace attack containing plenty of success in local conditions.

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