'Do not send Naseem Shah for Under19 World Cup' - Mohammad Hafeez requests the junior selection committee

Naseem Shah, the young fast-bowling prodigy from Pakistan made his international debut against Australia in the 1st Test of the two-match series. He only scalped one wicket in that game but certainly impressed with his pace and accuracy. The former cricketers were left astonished by the fact that how a 16-year-old player can bowl with such maturity and pace. And, now he was recently picked in the Pakistan squad for Under-19 World Cup. But, Mohammad Hafeez, the senior all-rounder doesn’t want him to play in that mega-event and has urged the team management for the same.

The 16-year-old pacer also played for Pakistan in the recently concluded two-match tests series against Sri Lanka. He took a five-wicket haul in the 2nd game in Karachi. However, now he became the youngest bowler to take a five-fer at the age of 16 years and 307 days.

The teenage sensation has proved his forte on the international stage by becoming the second-youngest player to scalp a fifer in Test cricket. Fellow Pakistani Nasim-ul-Ghani – a left-arm spinner – holds the record as the youngest bowler with a five-wicket haul in a Test innings.

Mohammad Hafeez wants Naseem Shah to improve his game

Mohammad Hafeez, the senior Pakistan all-rounder requested junior selection committee to not send Naseem Shah for Under-19 World Cup. According to Hafeez, the 16-year-old has already played for the national team and should start working hard on his game.

He should be more focussed on improving his game technically as well as physically in order to excel his game and raise his standards when it comes to international cricket. However, it would be great to offer that opportunity to any other young talent in the country.

Hafeez took to his Twitter handle and shared the post that read, “Humble suggestion 2 Junior selection committee, not to send Naseem shah to play under 19 world cup. He already played international cricket & should work hard Technically & Physically to get better at that level. Would be fruitful to use this opportunity to send any other fast bowler,”

Pakistan will begin their Under-19 World Cup campaign against Scotland on 19th of January followed by the next games against Zimbabwe on January 22 and Bangladesh on January 24.

Here is the post from Mohammad Hafeez:

Humble suggestion 2 Junior selection committee not 2 send Naseem shah to play under 19 world cup.He already played international cricket & should work hard Technically & Physically to get better at that level.Would be fruitful to use this opportunity to send any other fast bowler

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) December 23, 2019