File photo: Shaun Tait
File photo: Shaun Tait

Shaun Tait, the Pakistan bowling coach has heaped praise on fast bowler Naseem Shah, who gave a stellar account in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022. The 19-year-old teenager did more than hold his own in the tournament and got Pakistan out of trouble in high-voltage matches against India and Afghanistan.

One of Pakistan’s best players from the recently concluded Asia Cup – Naseem Shah will once again be the center of attention in the series against England. Ahead of the first match, Pakistan bowling coach Shaun Tait talked about the fast bowler.

 Naseem Shah celebrates a wicket in Asia Cup. (Courtesy: Reuters)
Naseem Shah celebrates a wicket in Asia Cup. (Courtesy: Reuters)

Shaun Tait: Naseem Shah’s Sort Of Free Spirited

Shaun Tait, one of the quickest bowlers to have ever graced the game, said he likened Naseem Shah’s abilities to his own and called him free-spirited.

“In some ways, Naseem Shah reminds me of myself when I was a younger cricketer. He’s sort of free-spirited. But I wasn’t as intelligent as he is at this age. I think you’ve all seen his natural abilities and skill with the new ball, which is excellent,” Shaun Tait said in the press conference ahead of the Pakistan’s first match vs England.

Shaun Tait PHOTO COURTESY: ICC
Shaun Tait PHOTO COURTESY: ICC

Naseem Shah recently made his T20I debut in Asia Cup 2022 and is set to take part in the seven-match T20I series against England. After making his Test debut way back in 2019, Naseem Shah forayed into limited-overs with his ODI debut during the series in the Netherlands earlier this year.

Thereafter, he played in the Asia Cup 2022 where he got the wickets of KL Rahul,  Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Kusal Mendis, Mohammed Nabi, Babar Hayat, and Nizakat Khan. He picked 7 scalps in 5 T20Is in Asia Cup 2022 averaging 19.71 at an economy rate of 7.67.

Shaun Tait: Pakistan Pacers Have Their Natural Abilities

Pakistan would be hoping to shake off their Asia Cup 2022 Final loss to Sri Lanka and build a stable unit for the upcoming 2022 T20I World Cup. Expectations will be high from the semi-finalists of the last edition of the tournament (2021 T20I World Cup), who can potentially have good chances in Australia, owing to their pace bowling contingent.

“Pakistan fast bowlers have their natural abilities. They like to keep things simple but they’ve got so much ability and have a lot of flair. So, that’s already ingrained in these guys,” Shaun Tait said about the bowling culture of Pakistan.

England vs Pakistan Photo Credit: (Getty Images)
England vs Pakistan Photo Credit: (Getty Images)

The hosts take on England in a lengthy, 7-match T20I series and a tri-series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, before going into the 2022 T20I World Cup, scheduled to be held in the months of October and November.

For the 7-match T20I series against England in Pakistan, the selectors have named all the players who will travel for the 2022 T20I World Cup except Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi. In their places, the selectors have named all-rounder Aamir Jamal and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed.

Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir.