Shoaib Akhtar compares 16-year-old Naseem Shah’s temperament to Virat Kohli

Coming into the Test series against Australia, Pakistan made quite a few changes into the setup. One of them was including Naseem Shah, the 16-year-old fast bowler, and Muhammad Musa Khan. Among the duo, the former has garnered a lot of attention for his sheer pace. Just before the tour, he picked up nine wickets, representing Central Punjab in the Quaid-e-Azam T20 Trophy.

The Young Turk is now set to make his debut in the opening Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, starting Thursday, November 21. Of late, he lost his mother, but he decided to stay back as he wouldn’t have been able to reach for his mother’s funeral in time. After the stern step taken by the speedster, former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar compared Shah’s temperament to Virat Kohli.

Akhtar lauded Naseem while speaking on his official YouTube channel. At the age of 18, Kohli underwent a personal tragedy. When he was playing a match for Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla, his father passed away. But Virat, the current Indian skipper, didn’t let emotions get the better of him and went to play the game. Later, Virat came back and attended his father’s rituals.

Akhtar also compares Shah with Amir of 2009

Apart from Virat, Shoaib also drew Shah’s comparison with Mohammad Amir. The veteran said that Shah is bowling the way Amir started his career in 2009. As per Akhtar, he wishes to see a tough character in Naseem and wants him to fight it out in conditions where fast bowlers can get hit.

“As a bowler, I can say that Pakistan has found a solid [Tagda] fast bowler. What I really like about Naseem Shah is that he understands how to bowl. To know how to bowl at this young age is amazing and it’s inbuilt in some – this is the same as Mohammad Amir as when he came on to the scene in 2009, the Rawalpindi Express stated.

“I want to see a fast bowler who has a strong character and I know that every fast-bowler gets hit about in Australia but when you fight it out, you are also appreciated there,” he added.