Naseem Shah: 'I respect Virat Kohli but don’t fear him'

Young Pakistan fast bowler hopes to play against India soon

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  Naseem Shah (Pakistan, 17 years). Handled correctly, Pakistan have a pace attack that should be a force to be reckoned with for the next decade. Shah already has a Test hat-trick to his name. AFP

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  Yashasvi Jaiswal (India, 18). Should have been playing in the Indian Premier League this month, having been signed by Rajasthan Royals for $340,000. Left-handed opener with power. Courtesy ICC

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  Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal, 19). The leg-spinner has two years of IPL experience under his belt, and is arguably the outstanding bowler outside of the Test sphere already. Courtesy Johan Jooste

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  Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan, 19). Only turned 19 at the end of March, but has played a Test, a World Cup, as well as as an overseas player in UAE, Australia, England, Bangladesh and India. AFP

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  Akbar Ali (Bangladesh, 18). The wicketkeeper has been much feted in Bangladesh – where he was termed Akbar the Great – after overseeing their first U19 World Cup win in February. Courtesy: ICC

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  Jayden Seales (West Indies, 18). Picked out by both Ian Bishop and Tom Moody as one for the near future for West Indies after the U19 World Cup, and the pace bowler has since landed a CPL deal. Courtesy: ICC

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  Shafiqullah Ghafari (Afghanistan, 18). Afghanistan are inundated with young, talented spinners. Where Mujeeb, Rashid Khan, Zahir Khan, and Qais Ahmed have led, leg-spinner Ghafari is sure to follow. Courtesy ICC

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  Haider Ali (Pakistan, 19). Reinforced a reputation he had already etched out at the U19 World Cup with an eye-catching campaign in Peshawar Zalmi’s middle-order in the PSL. AFP

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  Shoriful Islam (Bangladesh, 18). Bangladesh are no strangers to bringing through fiery left-arm quicks via U19 World Cups – see Mustafizur Rahman – and Shoriful might be next. Courtesy ICC

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  Tanveer Sangha (Australia, 18). The leg-spinner became the youngest player to land a BBL contract when Sydney Thunder signed him up aged 17 years and 346 days. Courtesy ICC

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  Ravi Bishnoi (India, 19). The son of a school headmaster was of the players of the tournament in the U19 World Cup in South Africa, where his leg-spin and googly combinations made him the leading wicket-taker. Courtesy ICC

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  Rakibul Hasan (Bangladesh, 17). The left-arm orthodox bowler’s control in the middle-overs was central to Bangladesh winning their first U19 world title in February. Courtesy ICC

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  Jonathan Figy (UAE, 18). Dubai-born, Abu Dhabi-raised, now at university in England, he was the first centurion at this year’s U19 World Cup, having already played senior ODI cricket. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Hamidullah Qadri (England, 19). Became the first county cricketer born this millennium when he debuted for Derbyshire in 2017. The Kandahar-born off-spinner was in the wickets at the U19 World Cup. AFP

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  Kushal Malla (Nepal, 16). Overtook the likes of Sachin Tendullkar and Shahid Afridi when he became the youngest player to score an ODI 50 aged just 15 earlier this year. Subas Humagain for The National

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  Tom Mackintosh (Scotland, 16). Born in Madrid, Scotland’s wicketkeeper gave a sneak peak of his talent ahead of the World Cup with a blistering hundred in a practice game against UAE in Dubai in January. Courtesy ICC

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  Kartik Tyagi (India, 19). A farmer’s son who was mentored by the same coach as Praveen Kumar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, he landed an IPL deal with Rajasthan Royals after thriving in South Africa. Courtesy ICC

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  Rohail Nazir (Pakistan, 18). Captained Pakistan to the semifinal at the U19 World Cup, before going on to catch the eye with the bat in the two brief cameos he managed in the PSL that followed. AFP

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  Bryce Parsons (South Africa, 19). The left-handed batsman is another from the prolific production line that South Africa will be hoping they can keep hold of rather than seeing him seek opportunities elsewhere. Courtesy ICC

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  Priyam Garg (India, 19). India’s U19 captain already has a first-class double century to his name, as well as two tons in List A limited-overs cricket, and is due to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Getty

Naseem Shah says he is looking forward to the chance to face India, and would relish going up against Virat Kohli.

The 17-year-old fast bowler became the youngest player to take an international hat-trick when he did so against Bangladesh earlier this year.

His team could face India at both the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup this year, although both tournaments are in doubt because of the pandemic.

"India versus Pakistan is always special, and I have already been told that players can become heroes and villains in those matches," Naseem said in an interview with PakPassion.net.

“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.

“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.”

After making his Test debut aged just 16 in Australia last year, Naseem has forged an impressive reputation already.

He took 5-31 in a Test against Sri Lanka, then later in the winter took that hat-trick against Bangladesh.

“I do feel blessed that I have had the chance to play for my country at such a young age,” Naseem said.

“It’s already been a roller-coaster ride with good days, bad days and some very sad times, but that is all part of life.

“At times I have to pinch myself and remind myself that I am already playing cricket for Pakistan.”