Naseem Shah is known as the star bowler of the current Pakistan cricket team. He’s just 20 years old but possesses the capability to produce lightning-fast deliveries. But we’re not here to discuss his lethal bowling but rather to reflect on his batting skills. Against Afghanistan Shah has carved himself a special batting niche. Nature gave him twice to prove it and prove he did. Let’s dive into the two glorious moments Naseem snathed victory from the Afghanistan cricket team
Naseem Shah, his bat, and the Afghanistan Cricket Team
The right-arm fast-bowler ain’t no magician with the bat. He can support his batting partner in a test match but isn’t a very special case in white-ball cricket. Why then is Afghanistan such an exception? Well, it’s because Shah doesn’t tolerate his fellow players being disrespected and a few individuals in the opposition just can’t stay away from creating controversy. The disdain fuels him.
Asia Cup 2022
The first time it happened was during Asia Cup 2022. The green team was just one match away from qualifying for the finals and that one match was against Nabi (the then-captain) and his men. Pakistan in the chase for 126 were losing their wickets quite quickly. When Asif Ali, the green shirt’s only hope lost his wicket to Fareed Ahmed’s bouncer in the 19th over which was followed by abuse hurled towards the batter.
While many thought of it as a normal heat-of-the-moment, it was enough to instigate Naseem Shah, batting alongside Asif. For the right-hand batter, it was time for revenge and he had only one over to do it. He went maniacal on Fazalhaq Farooqi’s two full-toss deliveries hitting two massive back-to-back sixes. Pakistan qualified for the final and the Afghanistan cricket team was put in its place, and it took only two shots.
Pak v Afg ODI series 2023
When Team Blue did not learn their lesson last year, Naseem probably said why not. In the recently concluded second ODI, a mundane match pretty quickly changed into a nail-biting one when Baba’s men fell prey to the bowling attack of the Afghanistan cricket team. 11 runs were needed in the last over when the in-form Shadab Khan was unjustly removed through Mankad means by Farooqi.
Well, the stage was set for the 20-year-old and he knew what he needed to do. It took him two deliveries to finish Afghanistan’s hope for a series win. It was a moment that not only brought extreme happiness but doubled the amount of nostalgia.
Fans were ecstatic
It wasn’t the fact that Pakistan won the match that brought extreme joy to the fans but how they won it. History was quite quick to repeat itself and the followers were quick to compare the eerie similarities between the two events. Needless to say, cricket lovers had a field day with memes and funny posts
Also, Read
