Naseem Shah: “If a newcomer performs in one game, the main bowlers are afraid of their place in the XI and wonder if they will be retained for the next game. That fear does not allow players to rest because sometimes when you rest, your career can end up resting in peace”
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Pakistan pace maestro Naseem Shah has admitted that players refuse to be rested as they are afraid their spot in the national team could be in danger.
He noted that if a main bowler is rested and their replacement excels in one match, they start getting fearful of whether they will get their place back in the side.
The 21-year-old knows it is important for cricketers to take a break from time to time as if they don’t, it can lead to injuries.
“I think, unfortunately, in Pakistan, the case is different. Here, the situation is such that if a newcomer performs in one game, the main bowlers are afraid of their place in the XI and wonder if they will be retained for the next game. That fear does not allow players to rest because sometimes when you rest, your career can end up resting in peace,” he told Cricwick as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
Naseem added that if players complain about not feeling 100 percent, it could lead to questions being raised about their commitment to playing international cricket.
“There’s also a fear among players and our culture is such that if we say our bodies aren’t 100 percent or we are tired, there will be a lot of chatter about our commitment towards playing. Even the players start talking about you so you don’t take rest voluntarily,” he said.
“The way to avoid that could be if the physio or bowling coach pre-decides the number of games you will play in a series. It will always be better. It [workload management] should happen but it is not in our culture.”
Naseem recently played for Islamabad United in the 2024 Pakistan Super League and took 15 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 22.20 and an economy rate of 7.56.
Islamabad were crowned champions in PSL after defeating the Multan Sultans by two wickets in the final.
Islamabad United Squad for PSL 9: Shadab Khan (captain), Naseem Shah, Jordan Cox, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Tymal Mills, Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Matthew Forde, Salman Ali Agha, Qasim Akram, Shahab Khan, Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah, Shamyl Hussain, Obed McCoy, Haider Ali, Muhammad Waseem
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