Day three of Pakistan vs Bangladesh opening Test at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi was all about teenage aggressive speedster Naseem Shah, who bagged his first-ever hat-trick that too at the youngest age in Test cricket’s history.
Shah, just 16 years and 359 days old, becomes the only second teenager and youngest bowler in Test history to bag the first hat-trick. Earlier, Bangladesh’s Alok Kapali achieved the milestone against Pakistan in 2003 at the age of 19. The right-arm leg-spin bowler held the record for almost 17 years.
The Pakistani pacer bagged Najmul Hossain Shanto (38), Taijul Islam (0) and Mahmudullah (0) in a row in the 41st over on Day 3. It was a treat to watch Shah roaring in front of Pindi’s crowd who was over the moon while chanting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and ‘A Gaya Naseem Chah Gaya Naseem (Naseem comes and Naseem conquers).
The record-breaker also sets trend on social media as the entire cricket fraternity is amazed to watch a splendid spell by the young speed gun. Cricket fanatics took to Twitter to heap all the praises the young pace sensation deserves.
https://twitter.com/ImranKh97712465/status/1226508665194270721
https://twitter.com/Danishdepar247/status/1226501314898735105
That was one hell of a delivery boy… Welldone Naseem Shah #PAKvBAN
— Stalker (@Stalker_053) February 7, 2020
On the other hand, former cricketers also expressed their joy on Twitter after watching the youngster accomplishing the magnificent feat.
Now Naseem signs up with a TEST HATTRICK! #PAKvsBAN https://t.co/Bt4tF9J8YU
— Ian Pont (@Ponty100mph) February 9, 2020
Happy for Naseem Shah. He has an x-factor about him and will almost always impact the game at some point with his pace, skill and control.#hat-trick.
— Ian bishop (@irbishi) February 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/ivivianrichards/status/1226510988800749568
Renowned Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle applauded Shah for becoming the youngest bowler to take a hat-trick.
While the Bangladesh juniors are having an excellent day so far, the seniors aren't quite up to it. Young Naseem Shah has again highlighted the fast bowling crop they seem to harvest.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 9, 2020
It must be noted here that Naseem is also the youngest pacer to claim a five-wicket haul in Test cricket. He accomplished this feat against Sri Lanka in December last year in Karachi.