Sarfraz Nawaz: “Earlier, he used to bowl at 145, and now he bowls at 135-137, something like that”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan pace bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has called out Naseem Shah, saying his bowling speed has fallen from 145 kph to 135 kph.
He noted that the 22-year-old drop in pace occurred after he suffered a shoulder injury.
In addition to this, Sarfraz also took aim at Naseem’s discipline when bowling, noting that he “doesn’t bowl within the stumps all the time”.
“He’s been in the team for almost five years now. Since he had his shoulder injury, his speed has slowed down. Earlier, he used to bowl at 145, and now he bowls at 135-137, something like that. Then he bowls outside the off-stump. He doesn’t bowl within the stumps all the time,” the 76-year-old told Cricbuzz.
Naseem was recently in action in the 2025 Champions Trophy and claimed two wickets in two matches at an average of 50.
He was then involved in Pakistan’s white-ball tour of New Zealand, but missed the five-match T20I series as he wasn’t included in the squad.
Naseem was part of the ODI squad though and featured in the three-match series, where he took three wickets at an average of 38.
Pakistan lost the T20Is 4-1 and the ODIs 3-0.
Naseem is now playing in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he is representing Islamabad United.
In the opening game against the Lahore Qalandars, he registered figures of 1-38 off his four overs.
PSL 10 began on April 11 and will conclude on May 18.
Islamabad United Squad for PSL 10:
- Platinum: Matthew Short, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan (captain)
- Diamond: Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Jason Holder
- Gold: Ben Dwarshuis, Salman Irshad, Salman Ali Agha, Haider Ali
- Silver: Andries Gous, Colin Munro, Mohammad Nawaz, Rumman Raees
- Emerging: Hunain Shah, Saad Masood
- Supplementary: Riley Meredith, Rassie van der Dussen
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