Mushtaq Ahmed: “In South Africa, you want bowlers like [Kagiso] Rabada, [Anrich] Nortje, [Glenn] McGrath who bowl into the pitch. Whoever bowls top of off, as Naseem Shah can do, will be successful there”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed believes fast bowler Naseem Shah can be very successful in the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa if he keeps hitting the top of off-stump when bowling.
Mushtaq knows Naseem is more than capable of doing this, even though it is a difficult feat to accomplish.
The 21-year-old is expected to lead the bowling attack, especially with his normal partner in crime, Shaheen Shah Afridi, not part of the squad.
“In South Africa, you want bowlers like [Kagiso] Rabada, [Anrich] Nortje, [Glenn] McGrath who bowl into the pitch. Whoever bowls top of off, as Naseem Shah can do, will be successful there,” Mushtaq told ESPNcricinfo.
Naseem was involved in Pakistan’s limited overs series against Australia, where he took five wickets in three ODIs at an average of 31.60.
He then proceeded to claim one wicket in two T20Is at an average of 81.
After this, he was rested for the ODI and T20I series against Zimbabwe, along with the T20I series against South Africa.
He returned to action in the three-match ODI series against the Proteas, picking up five wickets at an average of 28.
The two-Test series between Pakistan and South Africa will begin on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha