Naseem Shah's pace, composure earns him skipper Azhar Ali's nod

Azhar Ali, the Pakistan Test captain, confirmed on Wednesday, 20 November, that the young pace bowler would "definitely" be in the XI for the first match of their two-Test series, at the Gabba.

"Definitely, we're looking to play him," he told the media. "He's bowling really well. We'll announce the side [at the toss on Thursday] but he's going to be part of it."

Naseem has played just seven first-class games, picking up 27 wickets. Yet, his pace impressed the selectors enough to include him in the squad to travel to Australia, where his skill and temperament has earned him more fans.

In the practice game against Australia A, he picked up 1/21 and kept the batsmen on their toes. This even as he mourned his mother, who passed away when her son was on the other side of the world, working hard to make a name for himself.

"A parent is irreplaceable, and the guts and courage he showed coming out to the ground were quite commendable," Shan Masood, the Pakistan opener, had said during that game, praising his teammate's maturity. "But losing his mother and still stepping out in the field, when he's all the way in Australia, at the other end of the world... yet he's not going back, and staying here.

"Putting his hand up. He wants to do well for the team, for the country. That is commendable. That is going to reward him."

Azhar, who has led the youngster on the domestic circuit and seen him come up quickly from a time when he didn't even have spikes to bowl in, hailed his various qualities. "The good thing about him is he's very fit," he said. "I've no doubt in his fitness and bowling skills.

"Not many players can reach that standard so early ... When I saw him first I was so surprised about the control he had, the pace he had, and above all, the temperament and composure when he bowls. It is so exciting to see."

Along with Naseem, Pakistan also have in their attack 19-year-old Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Musa, another 19-year-old who made his international debut earlier this month in a T20I. Azhar was delighted that the side once again have the kind of young, exciting pace attack that they used to be known for. The return of Test cricket to Pakistan later this year, when Sri Lanka visit for a Test series, will only encourage more youngsters and bridge the present "disconnect" to international cricket, he felt.

"Kids watch international stars playing in front of them – we've been missing that for 10 years. Hopefully in a month's time, we will have Test cricket back in Pakistan, which will attract lot of youngsters."

Pakistan are aiming to win their first Test in Australia since 1995. Azhar's advice to his team is to "keep believing and play with no fear".

"We have the talent, potential to do well here," he said, his optimism high. "We have done well in patches in previous series. Here we come with fresh faces and a total new look to the Test team."