Naseem Shah ready for Bangladesh Tests

He is making a long-awaited Test return today

Naseem Shah is set to make his return to Test cricket after a year-long hiatus as Pakistan faces Bangladesh in the first Test in Rawalpindi, beginning on August 21.

Shah played a first-class game for Pakistan Shaheens against Bangladesh A last week, marking his comeback to the longer format. Despite the match being interrupted by rain, he bowled a total of 15.3 overs across both innings. On the first day, he bowled 8.3 overs, taking three wickets for 24 runs.

Reflecting on the game, Shah emphasized the importance of match practice, explaining that the physical and mental demands of a match are different from those of net sessions.

"That match was very important for me because you need that match practice," Shah told Cricbuzz.

"The load of bowling in a match and being in the ground is a lot different than how you train in nets. So, that first day was very important for me to get my rhythm going."

Shah also shared his thoughts on the challenges of Test cricket, highlighting how it tests both physical and mental endurance.

"It is called 'Test' because it tests you physically and mentally. You get frustrated when you don't get a wicket and have to spend considerable amounts of time in the ground.

So, the preparation is simple: increasing the bowling load and stay in the ground for longer. Just be in the ground from 10am until 5pm. Be more disciplined and consistent with the ball. The actual test is to be repetitive and bowl on the same spot repeatedly," he said.

"It is not easy to dismiss batters in Tests. You get wickets in white-ball cricket because they go for slogs and end up making mistakes. You may go for runs, but you know wickets are around the corner.

"But, you don't forget the wickets that you get in Test cricket. You remember them for your whole life, because you have earned them with your hard work.

It is only you who know how consistent you have been to get those wickets. You relish those dismissals when you watch them on TV and they bring back the memories of the set-ups that you had laid to get them.

So, that's the difference, you need a lot of passion in Test cricket," he added.