Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Clears The Air About Naseem Shah's Age Controversy

Naseem Shah, the 16-year-old Pakistan fast bowler, was caught in an age controversy after making his Test debut for Pakistan in the first Test against Australia in Brisbane. The controversy sparked when an old tweet from Pakistan journalist Saj Sadiq went viral on social media. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO Wasim Khan on Friday cleared the air on the controversy around the young fast bowler's age and said that people question his age because he is a mature lad and he is representing Pakistan at this age. 

"You only need to look at his face. He's hardly got any growth on his face. In terms of that, people question it no doubt, just because of his age and the fact that he's a mature lad and the fact he's playing international cricket at this age. But the bottom line is he's 16 years old and he's playing. We don't really care what India think," Wasim Khan was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.

Former India batsman, Mohammad Kaif took to Twitter and said that Naseem Shah looks a terrific prospect who is aging backwards.

Looks a terrific prospect. But is 16 now, aging backwards i think https://t.co/frlg06ZIFk

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 22, 2019

Before the start of the Test, Steve Smith had said that it will be interesting to face Naseem Shah, who is just 16 years old. "He's half my age. It'll be interesting ... 16 is young," Smith had told reporters.

The youngster impressed the cricket fraternity with his pace and maturity in his first international game against a formidable Australian side at the Gabba.

In his first Test, the teenager picked up the priced scalp of David Warner as his first international wicket.

Pakistan, however, failed with the bat in the Test series opener as they lost the first match by an innings and 5 runs.

Topics mentioned in this article

Pakistan Cricket Team Australia Cricket Team Cricket Naseem Shah Steven Smith