'With all due respect, Virat Kohli will be Naseem Shah's bunny' - Faisal Iqbal

17-year-old Naseem Shah, due to his exceptional bowling skills, is touted as the next big thing in Pakistan cricket. The speedster has been hogging the headlines ever since breaking into the national side during the Australia tour.

In the home series against Sri Lanka last year, he picked up a five-wicket haul in the Karachi Test and steered Pakistan to the victory. He continued to shine with the ball as he soon became the youngest player to pick an international hat-trick. Naseem scripted history when he scalped three wickets on three balls against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi in February this year.

For the talent which he possesses at such a young age, the teenage sensation is labelled as the ‘one to watch out for’ in the near future. Recently, in an interview, Naseem had opened up on the prospect of bowling to one of the best batsmen of the modern-era, Virat Kohli. Naseem had said that he has a lot of respect for the current Indian skipper but that doesn’t instil a sense of fear in him.

“As for Virat Kohli, I respect him but don’t fear him. It’s always a challenge to bowl to the best, but that’s where you have to raise your game. I look forward to playing against Virat Kohli and India whenever that chance comes,” Naseem had said in an interview with PakPassion.

The Naseem Shah-Virat Kohli battle, without a doubt, will be an exciting encounter whenever India and Pakistan lock horns with each other. Former Pakistan international Faisal Iqbal has also opined on the battle between the two. According to Iqbal, Kohli will be Naseem’s bunny as the speedster will trouble the Indian skipper with his pace and swing.

Faisal Iqbal is looking forward to the future battle between Kohli and Naseem

Iqbal retweeted the interview on his official Twitter handle and wrote: “With due respect to Virat as a great batsman I am sure our upcoming superstar fast bowler @iNaseemShah with genuine pace and swing Virat will be his bunny anytime.” Iqbal further added: “Looking forward to the future battle,” with the hashtag Respect for both.

With due respect to Virat as a great batsman I am sure our upcoming superstar fast bowler @iNaseemShah with genuine pace 🔥 and swing virat will be his bunny anytime! Looking forward to the future 🏏battle! 👍🏻😉 #RespectForBoth 🤗 https://t.co/WrIdpybNQe

— Faisal Iqbal🇵🇰🏏فیصل اقبال (@FaisalIqbalCric) June 1, 2020

During the interview, Naseem had also expressed his eagerness to play against India. He had said that India-Pakistan games are always special as a player can emerge as a hero or a villain in those fixtures.

“Yes definitely. India versus Pakistan is always special and I have already been told that players can become heroes and villains in those matches. They are special matches as they happen so rarely and yes, I am looking forward to playing against India whenever that opportunity arises. I hope that I can bowl well against India when that chance comes by and won’t let our fans down,” Naseem had said.