Srinagar: Pakistan cricket team skipper Babar Azam has brushed aside the concerns over the young pacer Naseem Shah’s fitness following a crucial defeat against India in Asia Cup 2022 at Dubai on Sunday.
India defeated Pakistan by five wickets with Hardik Pandya starring with both bat and ball. However for Pakistan it was young pacer Naseem Shah who stole the limelight.
Naseem struck early with the wicket of KL Rahul for naught as the opener dragged an express delivery onto his stumps.
The 19-year-old Naseem nearly got Kohli out two balls later only for Fakhar Zaman to drop a catch at second slip.
When asked about Shah’s fitness, Babar Azam maintained that it was just cramps under tough conditions.
“No serious concern over Naseem Shah’s fitness. It was just a case of cramps in a pressure game,” Babar Azam said in a post match conference.
Despite defending a smallish 147, the young pace attack of Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Haris Rauf bowled their heart out to take the game to the final over.
“We came back thanks to our outstanding fast bowling. Dahani stepped up with the bat which really gave us something to defend, but it’s a shame we couldn’t finish it off,” Babar Said.
“We wanted to have 15 or so to defend for Nawaz, but that wasn’t to be and Pandya finished it off wonderfully,” he added.
Pakistan will meet Hong Kong in their second Group A game on Friday.