PAK vs AFG: I Had The Belief I Could Hit Sixes- Naseem Shah

Naseem Shah has turned a lot of heads in this Asia Cup. But it resulted from his dexterity with the ball while playing for Pakistan in his first T20I against India.

He dismissed KL Rahul with the first delivery and remained a threat in the PowerPlay for the Indian team, repeatedly beating Virat Kohli’s bat.

He then came back for his second spell and castled Ravindra Jadeja and Suryakumar Yadav, who were threatening to steal the match away from Pakistan. Shah also has a Test hat-trick to his career, which he achieved in Rawalpindi in 2020 against Bangladesh.

Shah, though, proved that he is a capable batsman in addition to being a competent bowler. Shah hit two sixes off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the penultimate over of Afghanistan’s game against Pakistan on Wednesday in Sharjah.

This will be a memorable game for me: Naseem Shah

In the final over, with Pakistan needing 11 runs to win, Naseem hit two massive sixes off the left-arm pacer, giving Pakistan a four-ball victory margin. Shah scored 14 off four balls and two sixes to remain unblemished.

“When I came in to bat, I had the belief I could hit sixes,” Naseem said. “I practice this. I knew they would bowl yorkers. I just tried and I executed. I had spoken earlier itself that we need to have belief, we can hit. We train in the nets, so that belief was there. I felt my bat was not good, so I changed it (laughs).”