Pakistan’s top fast bowler Naseem Shah has said that whenever he is about to play a big match, he makes sure his brothers understand that their father should not watch the match. Naseem Shah has gained immense popularity and a lot of praise during his five-year international career.

Naseem is the youngest fast bowler to take a Test five-wicket haul and a hat-trick against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the age of just 16. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued his fledgling career and he also missed the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Naseem Shah does not allow his father to play matches

Naseem, in a recent interview, opened up about the family aspect of his career and how the sport has taken a toll on his father Abbas’s health.

Speaking to Cricbuzz, Naseem said, “My father is going through some health issues. There was a time when he didn’t know anything about cricket, but now he watches every ball and gets sad when we lose. So, before every big match, I call my brothers to make sure that our father doesn’t watch the match. I fear this might lead to some major health issues. It’s like I am playing two matches simultaneously.”

Naseem further said, “There is a lot going on behind the scenes in the lives of cricketers that people are not aware of. Sometimes you just look for small moments of happiness.”

How is the reaction of the family when they lose the match to India?

Naseem said, “People come up to me in restaurants and ask why we lost. Even my relatives have asked me about this. I understand that their emotions are fueled by social media and as a player, all I can do is listen to them.”

Naseem will take the field in the first match of the two-Test series against Bangladesh on August 21 in Rawalpindi.