Pakistan seamer Naseem Shah: “Yes, speed is important, but if you bowl accurately at 137-140 kph, it is more effective. This is the average pace in world cricket today”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah believes bowling accurately at 137 to 140 kph “is more effective” than simply relying on raw pace.
Naseem noted that his bowling speed is currently around 140 kph, “which is considered normal in ODIs”.
Rather than only focusing on speed, the 22-year-old feels it is more important to maintain a good line and length as that will bring about more wickets.
“If you look at my last match, my speed was around 140 kph, which is considered normal in ODIs. There are only a few bowlers in the world who consistently bowl at 145-150 kph. In my opinion, in ODIs and Test cricket, line, length, and discipline matter more. Yes, speed is important, but if you bowl accurately at 137-140 kph, it is more effective. This is the average pace in world cricket today,” he was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Naseem recently featured in Pakistan’s ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, where he took three wickets in three matches at an average of 60.33.
He then took part in the 2025 Champions Trophy and claimed two wickets in two games at an average of 50.
Pakistan saw their Champions Trophy campaign come to an end in the group stage after they lost to New Zealand and India.
Their final match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
Next up for Pakistan will be a limited overs tour of New Zealand, which will consist of five T20Is and three ODIs that will be held from March 16 to April 5.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir
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