Pakistan teenage pacer Naseem Shah not to return home from Australia for mother’s funeral

He was just days away from making his international debut in Australia but 16-year-old Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah saw his world crumbling down on Monday night as his mother passed away back home. However, the youngster decided to stay with the team and not return to Pakistan to attend his mother’s funeral, GEO News cited sources in the Pakistan team management as saying. Naseem was in the Pakistan team playing Australia ‘A’ in a three-day game in Perth ahead of the first Test in Brisbane starting November 21. He, however, did not bat or ball till break on Day 2.

It was reported that the decision to not return to Pakistan was taken mutually after Naseem spoke to his family members. Both Pakistan and Australia ‘A’ team players were seen playing in the side game donning black armbands to mourn the young player’s personal loss. Pak Passion editor Saj Sadiq said in a tweet that Naseem could not have made the funeral, scheduled on Tuesday, on time.

After discussions with his family, Pakistan pace bowler Naseem Shah is to stay with the squad in Australia. Naseem's mother's funeral is today and he would not have been able to make it in time to Pakistan for the funeral

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 12, 2019

Naseem Shah got maiden national call after terrific domestic show

Naseem, who made his first-class debut only last year, has taken part in only six first-class games, four T20s and a solitary List A match so far. The right-arm medium-fast bowler has already picked 26 wickets in six first-class games at an average of less than 17. He has two five-wicket hauls with the best bowling figure of 6 for 59. It was his impressive performance in the domestic circuit that earned Naseem his maiden national call.

In May, another Pakistan cricketer Asif Ali experienced a personal tragedy when his infant daughter died after a prolonged illness in the US but he still played in the World Cup in England that followed.

In 1999, former India batsman Sachin Tendulkar lost his father in the middle of the World Cup in England and went back home briefly to miss a game against Zimbabwe that India lost. He came back on his mother’s advice to slam a hundred against Kenya to give India a much-needed win.

Pakistan lost the recent T20I series against Australia 0-2.

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