Many Pakistani cricketers participated in this year’s county championship. Following the end of their team’s series against the West Indies, the players returned to England to take part in the T20 Blast. One of the Pakistani players currently playing on Blast is fast bowler Naseem Shah, who represents Gloucestershire. Shah also had one county stint with the team, but missed the first few games due to injury.
In the current T20 Blast, the 19-year-old Shah has played three matches for Gloucestershire, taking five wickets. Shah has now revealed his time in England. He has also revealed that there is a big difference in facilities at club level in England compared to Pakistan.
In an interview, Shah said that I think we don’t have even 30 per cent of the facilities available for club cricketers in England. I know where I come from, I started playing tape cricket and when I see the cricketers playing here it is totally different.
He said that when I play a club game here and look at the grounds and facilities, I think: ‘Wow, these guys are so lucky. They have many facilities. The Pakistani fast bowler further said that while there are good facilities in cities like Lahore and Karachi, there is a great need for improvement elsewhere. Shah said: “When we look at our cricket, most of the players come from places where it is difficult to take advantage of the facilities. There are good arrangements in places like Lahore, Karachi. But where I’m from, there was no cricket ground.