National selectors have made big and bold changes in the T20I and Tests squad for the tour of Australia, which reflects their positive intent for the challenging tour as well as looking to the future.
Nineteen-year-old fast bowler Musa Khan has been included in both squads, while 16-year-old pace sensation, Naseem Shah has found a spot in the squad for the two-match Test series.
Musa and Naseem, like Mohammad Hasnain and Shaheen Shah Afridi, are the products of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), where they were trained, fine-tuned and prepared for international assignments. The emergence of these boys have only strengthened the NCA’s reputation as a finishing school for future stars.
Besides the two pacers, leg-spinner Usman Qadir and left-handed batsman Khushdil Shah have been included in the T20I squads.
Musa, who has sealed berths in both Test and T20I squads made a big breakthrough in last year’s ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup where he took three wickets in two matches and impressed every one with his pace and control. In seven first-class games to date, Musa has taken 17 wickets.
In the ongoing 2019-20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the right-armer has collected five wickets in four matches, in his eight T20 matches so far, Musa has collected 12 wickets including a four-wicket haul in the ongoing National T20 tournament, taking place at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.
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Musa also represented Islamabad United in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2019 edition; he featured in seven games for the two-time champions.
Musa Khan regarding his selection said: “I am really happy with my selection for the Australia tour, I am not thinking about bowling to the likes of David Warner or Steve Smith, rather I want to make an impression with my pace and penetration.
“My strength is bowling fast, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar are my fast bowling idols and I want to replicate their performances and instill fear in the batsmen like they did.”
Musa will have teenager Naseem for company in Australia during the Tests, the right-armer Naseem has donned the national colours in age-group cricket at the U16, U19 and Emerging levels, while his sharp bouncers made batsmen duck for cover at the domestic level as well.
Naseem, first made an impression in the Pepsi Stars U16 One-Day tournament, Naseem took four wickets in his first match, the youngster hasn’t looked back since and has made his presence felt at all levels. Naseem took three wickets in two T20 matches against Australia U16. He also prospered in the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, taking six wickets in three matches.
In five first-class appearances, Naseem has taken 17 wickets; his best bowling figures in an innings are six for 59.
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In the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2019-20, Naseem has collected nine wickets in three appearances. Naseem and Musa’s inclusion are courageous decisions by the Misbah-ul-Haq-led selection committee, and are aimed at breathing fire in Pakistan’s pace attack on the bouncy Australian tracks.
Naseem Shah said: “Inclusion in the national team is the realisation of a dream; all professional cricketers aspire the same and work hard day-in-day-out. Bowling coach Waqar Younis has asked me to bowl on my strengths and that is exactly what I will aim to do in Australia.”
“I have always been inspired and encouraged by watching videos of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar. I aim to make an impression with my speed and swing if given a chance in the Tests against Australia,” he added.