- Naseem Shah’s media talk is available here. The media talk can be downloaded and used for editorial purposes only.
Lahore, 5 September 2023: Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah held a media talk at the National Cricket Academy on the sidelines of the team’s training session. Pakistan will play their first Super 4 match tomorrow at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The transcript of the media talk is below:
“There are still a few days before the India game. Our focus is on tomorrow’s game, whomever it is against. Our focus is to play our best cricket here and go to Sri Lanka with a win. We will see about the game versus India when it is closer.”
“We cannot talk about the past, but the current team and combination, and the way we are playing, makes us hopeful about winning the Asia Cup and doing well in the World Cup too. You cannot think about past performances, as they mentally affect you. We are hopeful about playing good cricket and winning.”
The conditions differ in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. We have gotten used to Sri Lankan conditions because of Test series and Lanka Premier League (LPL). Pakistan conditions are slightly different. You have to be disciplined in One-Day cricket, no matter where you are playing, as a bowling unit, you have to produce disciplined bowling, no matter what kind of wicket it is. We are aware of both these places, so we do our best to adjust well.”
“To be honest, it is not easy, especially speaking as a fast bowler. But as a professional, no matter what the schedule is, you have to accept it. We try our best to recover well and take care of ourselves while training, especially because we know the weather is hot. There is nothing you can do about the schedule.”
“I want to be Naseem Shah, a bowler of my own kind. Imran Khan, Wasim Akram are all big bowlers but every person is different. You can pick the things that they have done right but you cannot become them.”
“We just want to win the final. It does not matter who we play in the final, we just wish to win it.”
“I like to be useful to the team wherever I am required. Shaheen takes chances early in the innings to take wickets. I try to make sure chances are created, and runs aren’t leaked from the other end. Whatever the team requirement is, I make sure to give my 100%.”
