Pakistan head coach and former captain Misbah-ul-Haq has warned England ahead of Wednesday’s First Test that in 17-year-old Naseem Shah his team have a “complete bowler” who can “win a Test match on his own”.
Shah made his Test debut against Australia in November, when he was 16, and has taken 13 wickets in his first four matches — including a hat-trick in Pakistan’s most recent Test, against Bangladesh in February.
Misbah said: “Before going to Australia, Waqar Younis and me just saw him in the Gaddafi Stadium and at that time he just looked like a complete bowler. We could see the potential, but now we’ve got the evidence at international level. He has a hat-trick and five-fors.
“If you see his experience and his cricket, then the sample size is too small, but he’s already fulfilling his potential. He is one who could win a Test match on his own, so we’re looking forward for him to emerge as a very good bowler in this series.”
Misbah was Pakistan’s captain when they drew 2-2 with England in 2016 and brings with him an exciting crop of fast bowlers. Mohammad Abbas is likely to lead an attack which also contains 20-year-old Shaheen Shah Afridi.
