'Bumrah Se Acha Bowler Naseem Shah Hai': Pakistan Pacer Makes Bold Claim - WATCH

Star Pakistani pacer Ihsanullah, who has played in one ODI and four T20Is for Men in Green so far, has made a massive claim by saying that his teammate Naseem Shah is a better bowler than Indian superstar Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah is one of the best bowlers of present times. The 30-year-old right-arm pacer sits at the No. 1 position in the ICC Test bowler’s rankings, and he was in red-hot form for India in the ODI World Cup 2023 and T20 World Cup 2024. For dismissing 15 batters in eight matches of the shortest format megaevent played earlier this year, Bumrah won the Player of the Tournament award as well.

But when asked about Bumrah during a recent interaction on a YouTube channel in Pakistan, Ihsanullah said that Naseem is a better bowler.

“Agar dekha jaaye toh Jasprit Bumrah se acha bowler Naseem Shah hai (If you look at it, Naseem Shah is a better bowler than Jasprit Bumrah).”

The host then said that Bumrah’s performances have been better, to which Ihsanullah replied by saying that Naseem even performed well in the 2022 T20 World Cup.

“Naseem Shah bhi aise he perform kar raha tha 2022 T20 World Cup mein. Koi baat nahi, ek saal aisa aata hai koi perform karta hai ya nahi, fir bhi Naseem Shah usse acha hai (Naseem Shah also performed well in the 2022 World Cup. Sometimes players can go through a rough patch for a year, but Naseem is still better).”

Naseem, who was dropped from Pakistan’s Test squad last week for the last two matches of the ongoing three-match series against England, has played in a total of 19 Tests, 14 ODIs, and 28 T20Is so far since making his debut in November 2019 against Australia. The 21-year-old right-arm pacer has 56, 32, and 24 wickets to his name in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, respectively.

He has played two ODIs against India in 2023 and picked up three wickets, whereas in four T20Is, Naseem has accounted for the dismissal of seven Indian batters.

On the other hand, Bumrah has 7 and 5 wickets to his name in eight ODIs and four T20Is, respectively, against Men in Green. The Indian Test vice captain won POTM awards in the ODI World Cup 2023 and T20 World Cup 2024 matches played between India and Pakistan.