Naseem Shah Reflects on Pressure and Family

Naseem Shah, a young bowler whose talent has earned widespread recognition, has already made a mark with 17 Tests, 14 ODIs, and 28 T20Is at just 21 years old. Regarded as one of the future stars of Pakistan cricket, Shah recently revealed that although his father is his biggest supporter, he does not allow him to watch his matches. 

In an interview Shah shared, "There’s a lot that happens in a cricketer's life behind the scenes that people aren’t aware of. At times, you’re just searching for small moments of happiness." He explained that his father, who is currently dealing with health issues, used to know little about cricket but now watches every ball and becomes anxious when Pakistan loses. To protect his father from undue stress, Shah contacts his brothers before every major game to ensure that their father doesn't watch it. "It feels like I’m playing two matches at once," Shah admitted, expressing his concern that the pressure could worsen his father's condition.

Reflecting on India vs. Pakistan match at the T20 World Cup 2024, where Pakistan failed to chase a modest target of 120 and lost by six runs despite being 80/3 in the 14th over, Shah said, "There are a lot of emotions tied to such matches. I didn’t expect the result to turn out that way. Sometimes, you keep certain feelings to yourself, but a lot of thoughts and emotions flashed through my mind at that moment."

He continued, "Even though I wasn’t directly targeted by fans or the media, it’s hard to be content and say I did my part when the team loses. I’m someone who plays to win. Losing, whether at home or on the street, disappoints me. The World Cup exit hurt me deeply."

Shah also mentioned his determination to regain the trust of Pakistan's fans with strong performances on the field. "People approach me in restaurants and ask why we lost, and even my relatives have questioned me. I understand that their sentiments are influenced by social media, and as a player, all I can do is listen. There are moments when it feels overwhelming, but it also fuels the desire for a comeback. People had many questions and a lot of frustration, which I understand. Now, we have a chance to win back their hearts by playing good cricket."