‘We used to laugh at him saying how will a man from Dir play for Pakistan’ - Naseem Shah’s father recalls early days

Pakistan’s young quick Naseem Shah has lit up the Asia Cup 2022 by rattling batters with his pace and swing upfront. The young pacer has been one of the standout bowlers of the tournament as he has stepped up for the team in the absence of Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim, taking his chances with both hands. The graph has been on the upward curve for Shah, and he has a lot of years left in his international career.  

Apart from his excellent bowling skills, Shah took everyone by surprise when he won the game for Pakistan against Afghanistan with the bat by hitting two back-to-back sixes in the last over when all the odds were against him. The pacer's father, meanwhile, recently spoke about his son's early days as a cricketer.

I beat Naseem many times for playing cricket: Naseem Shah’s father  

Naseem’s father mentioned how he used to beat his son for not focussing on studies and playing cricket instead. He also revealed that Naseem's elder brother used to lend him money for playing cricket and told how Naseem used to discuss his dream of playing for Pakistan with his mother. He added that Shah becomes emotional every time he is reminded of his mother.  

"I beat Naseem many times for playing cricket, asking him to focus on his studies instead. None of us supported Naseem, only his brother would secretly give him money," Naseem’s father was quoted as saying by India Today. "When his mother was alive, he used to say that one day I will play for Pakistan. We used to laugh saying how will a man from Dir join the Pakistan team.” 

"He thinks of her and cries a lot. He says if mother was here, she would have been very happy to see me in the Pakistan kit," he added.