Test hopeful's 'immense courage' to play after family tragedy
Pakistan's 16-year-old quick Naseem Shah has given Australia's batsmen plenty to think about with a fiery spell in the drawn pink-ball tour match against Australia A.
Two days after the death of his mother, Naseem delivered a bruising display of fast bowling at Optus Stadium that culminated in the teenager dismissing Marcus Harris (20) with a fearsome bouncer that caught the left-hander's edge.
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The teenager’s impressive spell was made all the more meaningful considering his mother had passed away less than 24 hours earlier.
Shah elected not to return home, instead preferring to take to the pitch.
Both the Pakistan and Australian players wore black arm bands to how their solidarity with the young paceman.
Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah got serious pace, troubled first choice Australia Test batsmen with brutal bouncers. immense courage by the young bowler to bowl just 24 hours after losing his mother. do they have fast-bowling factories in Pakistan? 🔥 #Cricket
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) November 13, 2019
Heartfelt condolences to Nasim Shah and his family ♥
Both sides are wearing black armbands today in respect to Nasim's mother who passed away last night.#AUSAvPAK— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 12, 2019
Azhar Ali "Despite suffering a personal loss in the passing away of his mother, Naseem Shah bowled brilliantly and all in all, it was a perfect warm-up game for us" #AUSAvPAK
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 13, 2019
Boasting an unusual technique and impressive pace, the right-arm quick finished with figures of 1-21 before Australia A captain Alex Carey and Pakistan counterpart Azhar Ali shook hands with half an hour left on Wednesday evening.
Australia A were 2-91 in their second innings at the conclusion of the three-day match, still 367 runs shy of Pakistan's tally after a dominant display by the tourists.
Usman Khawaja survived to be 37 not out, although it was likely to be of little consequence ahead of Thursday's Test squad announcement.
Left-arm paceman Shaheen Afridi earlier had Test hopeful Joe Burns caught behind on 11, two balls after he was dropped at first slip.
It was another untimely failure for Burns, who was clean-bowled by Imran Khan for a golden duck in the first innings as Australia A crumbled to be all out for 122.
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Pakistan declared their second innings at 3-152 after tea, having overall handled the conditions far better than the hosts.
"It's not the way we would have liked to bat in the first innings under these conditions," Carey said.
"But I'm sure all of our players - and there'll be some boys in the Test squad, no doubt - will learn a lot from (playing) under lights, pink ball (against) Pakistan."
Iftikhar Ahmed, promoted to No.4 for the second dig, finished unbeaten on 79 and opener Shan Masood scored 65 before falling to Travis Head's part-time spin.
Ashes reserve paceman Michael Neser (2-10) was the pick of the bowlers, trapping skipper Azhar Ali lbw and having Haris Sohail caught at gully.
Neither Azhar nor Sohail managed to compile a significant score in either innings but Pakistan will take plenty of confidence from Iftikhar and Masood having followed up on centuries to Babar Azam and Asad Shafiq in the first dig.
National coach Justin Langer and chief selector Trevor Hohns met on Wednesday to pick their 12-man squad for the first Test at the Gabba starting November 21, with none of Australia A's batsmen having made an irresistible case for selection.