Naseem Shah says his best cricket is yet to come after injuries

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah believes he has yet to reach the peak of his career, particularly in Test cricket, as he looks to overcome injury setbacks and establish himself as a more mature and skilful performer.

The 23-year-old pacer, who made his international debut in 2019 at just 16, said his experiences over the years had changed his approach to the game, teaching him the importance of patience, maturity and tactical awareness.

Speaking on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) digital platform, Naseem reflected on how his understanding of fast bowling had evolved since his early days in international cricket.

“You change a lot as a human being and a cricketer (as you age) with maturity levels and experience enhancing,” he said.

He added that although young fast bowlers often rely on express pace, experience teaches them to understand their plans and execute them more intelligently.

Naseem also highlighted the physical and mental challenges of recovering from injuries, describing rehabilitation and understanding his body as essential parts of a fast bowler’s career.

“You go back to zero whenever you are injured and sometimes it doesn’t even allow you to go for a run, let alone going through the motions of the game,” he said.

The right-arm pacer stressed that a proper rehabilitation programme and support from an experienced medical team were crucial to returning to competitive cricket.

Naseem eyes stronger performances

Discussing modern white-ball cricket, Naseem said bowlers faced increasing pressure because of batting-friendly pitches and the growing emphasis on high-scoring matches.

He argued that fast bowlers needed to develop greater variation, tactical awareness and the ability to outthink batters rather than relying solely on speed.

“You have to toy with a batter’s mindset in modern-day white-ball cricket,” he observed.

Despite the setbacks he has experienced, Naseem remains confident that his best performances are still ahead of him.

“I feel I’m yet to play my peak cricket. Whatever the cricket I’ve played so far, especially Test cricket, I think I lacked a few things,” he said.

Naseem added that his primary objective was to perform consistently rather than make public declarations about his ambitions.

“My simple goal is to perform so much that there is no need to talk out loud about my goals or performances,” he said.

The Pakistan pacer’s immediate focus remains on staying fit, maintaining a strong bowling rhythm and translating his experience into consistent performances across formats.