KARACHI: Pakistani fast bowler Naseem Shah acquired a record of the youngest fast bowler in the world to take a five-wicket drag in an innings of the second test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at National Stadium Karachi on Monday.
Shah claimed records of 5/31 in Pakistan’s 263 run win and he achieved the feat at the age of 16 years and 311 days. Spinner Nasim-ul-Ghani In 1958, he had become the youngest bowler to claim a five-for against the mighty West Indian Test team.
Naseem Shah started playing tape-ball as a child in Lower Dir but coming from a family to whom cricket meant little, he assumed that his promise would be unfulfilled.
Yet his uncle, persuaded by the admiration the young bowler was attracting, took him on the eight-hour road trip to Lahore and enrolled him at the Abdul Qadir Academy where he prospered so quickly that he was selected for Lahore Under-16s at 13 and Pakistan Under-16s at 14.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 263 runs in the second and final Test in Karachi today, taking the series 1-0. Sri Lanka, set a target of 476 runs, was bowled out for 212 in their second innings. Shah was the pick of the bowlers, claiming five wickets.
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