Grant Elliott: “Naseem Shah has stepped up and taken charge. He’s bowled exceptionally well, setting the standard for the rest”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former New Zealand all-rounder Grant Elliott said Naseem Shah has stepped up and taken charge of Pakistan’s pace attack in ODIs.
Elliott pointed to the recent three-match ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand, where Naseem took three wickets at an average of 38.
He noted that the 22-year-old “bowled exceptionally well” and was “setting the standard for the rest”.
“I think they initially relied on Shaheen Shah Afridi to lead the attack (in the T20Is), but today, Naseem Shah has stepped up and taken charge. He’s bowled exceptionally well, setting the standard for the rest – saying, ‘Boys this is how it’s done.’ And the others have followed his example right from the start,” Elliott was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Following the New Zealand tour, Naseem represented Islamabad United in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and finished with nine wickets in 10 games at an average of 40.33 and an economy rate of 9.30.
The Pakistan team returned to action after PSL 10 as they took on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, which they won 3-0.
Naseem was part of the squad, but didn’t feature in any of the matches.
The men in green then toured Bangladesh, where they lost the T20I series 2-1, but Naseem was not included in the team.
He is set to make his comeback during Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies after being picked in the ODI squad.
Pakistan and the West Indies will play three T20Is and three ODIs from August 1 to 12.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan Squad for West Indies ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem
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