(Source X)
Pakistan cricketer Naseem Shah has addressed the team’s recent struggles across all formats, acknowledging that their recent performances have been below par. He admitted that their comeback efforts have fallen short, and while they cannot ignore their lackluster play, they are determined to improve in the upcoming games.
The Pakistan National Cricket Team has faced a rough patch, especially since their exit from the ICC World Cup 2023. Their performance in the tournament ended in a group stage exit, followed by a series of controversies surrounding the captaincy, which saw changes from Babar Azam to Shaheen Afridi and back to Babar Azam. Amidst these issues, the team’s performances continued to disappoint.
The situation did not improve in the T20 World Cup 2024, where Pakistan suffered significant losses to the United States and India, failing to progress beyond the group stage despite being favorites.
Naseem Shah views the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh as a critical opportunity for the team to recover and regain form. He expressed confidence that the team can make a strong comeback and improve their performance.
“Yes, our comeback wasn’t great, and we can’t deny that we didn’t play good cricket. Criticism is part of it, and we must endure it until things improve. This is a good chance to bounce back, play better, and show up as a team. That’s what I’m hoping for.”
Pakistan is gearing up to host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series later this month. The series will kick off on August 21 in Rawalpindi, with the second Test scheduled to take place in Karachi starting August 30.
I haven’t played red cricket for thirteen months – Naseem Shah
Naseem Shah also discussed his return to Test cricket, acknowledging that he hasn’t played in the format for a while and expects it to be challenging. He mentioned that he’s working diligently to push his limits and boost his speed.
“I haven’t played red cricket for thirteen months; it’s not easy to play after a long time. International cricket has its own pressure; however, we are training hard for it.
“I know personally that playing an international match after a long time is not easy. After returning from injury, I am gradually increasing the load of bowling spells,” he concluded.
Naseem Shah is set to play a key role for the Pakistan team in the forthcoming Test series. Initially, he will participate in a four-day game for the Pakistan Shaheens against Bangladesh A, scheduled to be held at Islamabad Club from August 13 to August 16. Following this match, Naseem Shah, along with seven other potential players, will join the senior squad for the Test series.
