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How Pakistan's youngest Test quicks fared

3 minute read

If 16-year-old Naseem Shah debuts for Pakistan in the first Test against Australia, he'll join a long line of teenage quicks for the nation.

PAKISTAN'S YOUNGEST TEST BOWLERS:

AAQIB JAVED - 16 years, 189 days:

The youngest fast bowler in Pakistan's Test history debuted in 1989 against New Zealand in Wellington. Played only 22 Tests across 10 years, in the shadows of greats Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis but did have a key role in Pakistan's 1992 World Cup win with Waqar injured. Finished with 54 wickets at 34.70 in Tests.

ATA-UR-REHMAN - 17 years 68 days:

Another who had his opportunity limited by the Wasim-Waqar combination, Ata-ur-Rehman debuted in 1992 against England at Edgbaston and played his 13th and final Test in 1996. Took 31 wickets at 34.54 but his career effectively ended when he was banned for life in 2000 for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal. The ban was lifted in May 2007 but he never played first-class cricket again.

MOHAMMAD AMIR - 17 years 82 days:

Spotted by Wasim Akram, left-hander Amir was one of the brightest fast-bowling prospects in the world when took six wickets on debut against Sri Lanka in 2009 in Galle. A year later, the 18-year-old was the youngest bowler to claim 50 Test wickets. His world came crashing down when he received a five-year ban for spot-fixing as well as a six-month prison sentence. In 2016, Amir returned to Test cricket. He has 119 wickets at 30.47 but has become more of a white-ball specialist recently for his country.

FAZL-E-AKBAR - 17 years 129 days:

Claimed a maiden Test scalp of South Africa's opener Gary Kirsten on debut in 1998 in Durban but played just four more Tests over the next six years. Injuries forced Fazl to drop his pace and his career record of 11 wickets at 46.45 reflected a career which never really took off internationally.

YASIR ALI - 17 years 323 days:

The only player of Pakistan's five youngest fast bowlers to make just one Test appearance, but the game against Bangladesh in Multan in 2003 was one to remember. Without any first-class experience, 17-year-old Ali was last man in alongside veteran Inzamam-ul-Haq, with Pakistan needing four runs to avoid being the first team to lose a Test to Bangladesh. Ali scampered a single and Inzamam wrapped up the win. Didn't play for his country again but had a long first-class career.

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