Naseem Shah: A Teenager Who Rewrote Test Cricket’s Record Books
Grief and history arrived for Naseem Shah within about 48 hours of each other. He made his Test debut in Brisbane a day after his mother passed away, still a 16-year-old kid facing an Australian attack in its own backyard.
Lower Dir, a father who wanted something safer
Naseem was born on 15 February 2003 in Mayar Jandool, Lower Dir. His uncle enrolled him at the Abdul Qadir Cricket Academy in Lahore when he was just 13.
First-class cricket at 15, Test cricket at 16
His debut, on 21 November 2019 in Brisbane, made him the ninth-youngest player ever to debut in Test cricket — and it came a single day after his mother’s death. He dismissed David Warner for his first Test wicket in that match.
Records falling in successive matches
At 16 years and 359 days old, he became the youngest bowler in the history of Test cricket to take a hat-trick, claiming three wickets across three consecutive deliveries against Bangladesh.
White-ball cricket: an easy transition
His T20I debut came against arch-rivals India at the 2022 Asia Cup. He was central to Pakistan’s run to that Asia Cup final, and helped push the team to the 2022 T20 World Cup final too, alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.
The injury that changed the trajectory
A debilitating shoulder injury ruled Naseem out of the 2023 ODI World Cup entirely and kept him sidelined for much of the following year.
A DSP in Balochistan, and other honours
In February 2023, Naseem was given the honorary rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Balochistan Police.
Family, and a brother following the same path
His younger brother, Hunain Shah, is also a fast bowler, and their youngest brother, Ubaid Shah, represented Pakistan at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup.
Where his career stands
Naseem Shah’s story is really two stories stitched together: an almost unbelievable teenage rise, and then a more complicated second act, in which injury and workload have slowed but not stopped him.
Quick facts
Full name: Naseem Abbas Shah | Born: 15 February 2003, Mayar Jandool, Lower Dir | Role: Right-arm fast bowler | Notable: Youngest bowler ever to take a Test hat-trick (16 years, 359 days), youngest pace bowler to take a Test five-wicket haul, 2022 T20 World Cup finalist, honorary DSP of Balochistan Police.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Naseem Shah?
Born on 15 February 2003, Naseem Shah is in his early twenties as of 2026.
What record does Naseem Shah hold in Test cricket?
He is the youngest bowler in Test history to take a hat-trick, achieving it at 16 years and 359 days old.
Did Naseem Shah really debut the day after his mother died?
Yes — he made his Test debut in Brisbane against Australia a day after his mother’s death.
What injury has affected Naseem Shah’s career?
A serious shoulder injury ruled him out of the 2023 ODI World Cup and much of the following year.
Is Naseem Shah related to other cricketers?
His younger brothers Hunain Shah and Ubaid Shah are also fast bowlers.
Related players
Shaheen Shah Afridi · Haris Rauf · Babar Azam · Browse more on our Players page
Researched and fact-checked against official league, federation and governing-body sources. Reviewed by Makhdoomzada Zaeem Muhammad, Founder & Editor, PinLivescore.