Najaf Shah Explained

Najaf Shah
Birth Date:17 December 1984
Birth Place:Gujjar Khan, Pakistan
Height:6 ft 4 in
Batting:Left-handed
Bowling:Left-arm fast
Role:Bowling
International:true
Odidebutdate:22 May
Odidebutyear:2007
Odidebutagainst:Sri Lanka
Country:Pakistan
Fullname:Najaf Shah
Date:15 August
Year:2022
Source:http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/293506.html CricInfo

Najaf Shah (Urdu: نجف شاہ, born 17 December 1984) is an international cricketer from Pakistan who now plays for Rawalpindi region and Pakistan International Airlines and various international franchise leagues. He played his first One Day International game against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, UAE in 2007.[1] [2] [3] He is a left-arm medium-fast bowler with the ability to bat in the lower order. He has played 134 first-class cricket matches[4] and taken over 477 wickets,[5] with a career best of 7 for 57 for Pakistan International Airlines against National Bank of Pakistan in the semi-final of the Patron's Trophy in 2004–05. Currently, Najaf lives in Dallas, Texas, USA.[6]

Early and personal life

Najaf belongs to Gujar Khan. He started his earlier career at school level with taped tennis ball, it is quite normal in this part of world to start with tape/tennis ball rather than full cricket gear. Through initial school competitions he was spotted to be high potential talent. After completion of school education he took admission in Sarwar Shaheed College in intermediate level. He was selected captain of college cricket team, under his captaincy college's team won some major tournaments. In 2000-01 he moved to Rawalpindi from Gujar Khan for higher education. After moving to Rawalpindi he joined Gull Cricket Club and that was a turning point of his career and started cricket as a professional

Playing career

Pakistan national domestic matches

Najaf Shah has been playing First-class cricket in Pakistan since 2001.[7] He has played for various teams but his major teams are Rawalpindi region and Pakistan International Airlines . He has contributed to PIA and Rawalpindi cricket team success and his performances over the years helped the teams to win some of the major domestic championships title.

In February 2003, PIA won the championship title against Khan Research Laboratories cricket team, in final match Najaf grabbed 5 wickets,[8] again In 2004 /2005 ABN-AMRO trophy PIA shared championship title with HBL in rain effected final match and Najaf was declared best bowler of the tournament.[9] [10]

2014/15 season was also a good season for him, he was declared best bowler of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy grabbing up 42 wickets in 8 matches with the best Avg 15.19 per wicket[11]

International matches and tours

Najaf's international career started through ICC Under-17 Asia Cup, held in Pakistan during the 2000/2001 cricket season. He played for Pakistan U-19 and Pakistan A for a few years. In 2007, he was selected for Pakistan Cricket Academy team to tour Bangladesh for a tri-series tournament involving Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.[12] The tour helped him make a strong case for national selectors as he took 9 wicket in 4 one-day matches in the tri series[13] most by any bowler and then 16 wickets in two four day matches against Bangla Dash again most by any bowler and Pakistan Academy team won both matches team.[14]

International Matches and Tours
YearTeamVsVenue (Country)
2009PCB Patron's XI[15] Sri LankaPakistan
2007Pakistan A[16] Australia APakistan
2007PakistanSri LankaUAE
2007Pakistan Cricket Academy[17] Sri Lanka / Bangladesh Cricket Academy Bangladesh
2005Pakistan A[18] Australia A Pakistan
2005PCB Patron's XI[19] West Indies Pakistan
2005PCB Patron's XI[20] England Pakistan
2005Pakistan Cricket Academy[21] South Africa Cricket AcademyPakistan
2005Pakistan A[22] NamibiaNamibia
2005Pakistan A[23] ZimbabweZimbabwe
2004Pakistan A[24] Sri Lanka ASri Lanka
2003Pakistan A[25] UAEUAE
2000Pakistan U-17[26] ICC Under-17 Asian Cup Pakistan

International cricket leagues and tournaments

International Tournaments
YearTeamTournamentsCountry
2016US All Stars [27] US Open T20 Tournament FloridaUSA
2016Smart Choice World XI[28] Diversity T20 Cup MichiganUSA
2016Grand Rapids CC[29] Midwest Cricket Conference League Chicago USA
2016Virginia Cricket Club[30] Washington Cricket League USA
2015Chicago Gymkhana Cricket Club[31] Midwest Cricket Conference League -Unity Cup Chicago USA
2013Wirksworth Cricket Club[32] Derbyshire Cricket League England
2009Kidsgrove Cricket Club[33] North Staffordshire South Cheshire Cricket League England
2008Barlaston Cricket Club[34] North Staffordshire South Cheshire Cricket League England
2006Ashcombe Park Cricket Club[35] North Staffordshire South Cheshire Cricket League England
2005Burslem Cricket Club[36] North Staffordshire South Cheshire Cricket League England
2004Burslem Cricket ClubNorth Staffordshire South Cheshire Cricket League England

Other contributions

Cricket talent selection duties, Najaf has been supporting regional selection committee to find fast bowlers for region and Pakistan[37]

TV cricket analyst

Najaf is also well known cricket analyst in Pakistan, he is currently signed by Pakistan Television Corporation and Kay2 TV to cover major cricket events. Recently he has covered Pakistan Super League but in past he has been covering ICC tournaments[38] [39] [40] [41]

Awards and records

Notes and References

  1. Web site: - YouTube. YouTube.
  2. Web site: - YouTube. YouTube.
  3. Web site: Full Scorecard of Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 3rd ODI 2007 - Score Report ESPNcricinfo.com.
  4. Web site: Najaf Shah profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos.
  5. Web site: Najaf Shah profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos.
  6. Web site: Full Scorecard of PIA vs National Bnk Semi-Final 2004/05 - Score Report ESPNcricinfo.com.
  7. Web site: List A Matches Played by Najaf Shah Official Cricket Records PCB.
  8. Web site: Final: Khan Research Laboratories vs Pakistan International Airlines at Karachi Cricket Scorecard Live Results PCB.
  9. Web site: Full Scorecard of Habib Bank vs PIA Final 2004/05 - Score Report ESPNcricinfo.com.
  10. Web site: ABN-AMRO Patron's Trophy 2004/05 TEST Bowling Averages Records Cricket Statistics PCB.
  11. Web site: Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver League, 2014/15 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com.
  12. Web site: Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy v Pakistan Cricket Academy: Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy vs Pakistan Cricket Academy at Mirpur Cricket Scorecard Live Results PCB.
  13. Web site: Academy Tri-Series, 2006/07 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com.
  14. Web site: Pakistan Cricket Academy tour of Bangladesh, Apr-May 2007 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com.
  15. Web site: Full Scorecard of PCB Pat XI vs Sri Lankans Tour Match 2008/09 - Score Report ESPNcricinfo.com.
  16. Web site: Pakistan A v Australia A: Pakistan A vs Australia A at Lahore Cricket Scorecard Live Results PCB. www.pcb.com.pk. en-US. 2017-04-30.
  17. Web site: The Home of CricketArchive. cricketarchive.com. 2017-04-30.
  18. Web site: Pakistan A v Australia A: Pakistan A vs Australia A at Rawalpindi Cricket Scorecard Live Results PCB. www.pcb.com.pk. en-US. 2017-04-30.
  19. Web site: The Home of CricketArchive. cricketarchive.com. 2017-04-30.
  20. News: Trescothick puts bite back into toothless tourists. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/trescothick-puts-bite-back-into-toothless-tourists-323724.html . 2022-06-18 . subscription . live. 2005-11-01. The Independent. 2017-04-30. en-GB.
  21. Web site: Pakistan Cricket Academy v South Africa Academy: Pakistan Cricket Academy vs South Africa Academy at Karachi Cricket Scorecard Live Results PCB. www.pcb.com.pk. en-US. 2017-04-30.
  22. Web site: The Home of CricketArchive. cricketarchive.com. 2017-04-30.
  23. Web site: The Home of CricketArchive. cricketarchive.com. 2017-04-30.
  24. Web site: Sri Lanka A v Pakistan A: Pakistan A vs Sri Lanka A at Dambulla Cricket Scorecard Live Results PCB.
  25. Web site: The Home of CricketArchive. cricketarchive.com. 2017-04-30.
  26. Web site: ICC U-17 Asia Cup.
  27. http://ccusa.info/playerprofile/b20b260a9468a746c6eabeb7?statType=bowling
  28. Web site: diversity cup michigan 2016 - Google Search. www.google.com. en. 2017-04-30.
  29. Web site: Pak Gymkhana vs GRCC Tigers Scorecards Midwest Cricket Conference on Chauka.in. mwcc.chauka.in. 2017-04-30.
  30. http://oldweb.wclinc.com/viewplayer.php?player=n440s74836
  31. Web site: Challengers vs Chicago Gymkhana Scorecards Midwest Cricket Conference on Chauka.in. mwcc.chauka.in. 2017-04-30.
  32. Web site: W&M preparations are in full swing for 2013. www.matlockmercury.co.uk. en. 2017-04-30.
  33. News: Cricket: Blythe maintain glimmer of hope as batsmen heed call. 2009-08-14. Stoke Sentinel. 2017-04-30. en.
  34. Web site: The Home of CricketArchive. cricketarchive.com. 2017-04-30.
  35. Web site: Endon CC. endon.play-cricket.com. en. 2017-04-30.
  36. Web site: Registration Wall .
  37. Web site: Imran Khan's pacers hunting programme launched . nation.com.pk . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160312023939/http://nation.com.pk/sports/11-Mar-2016/imran-khan-s-pacers-hunting-programme-launched . 2016-03-12.
  38. Web site: - YouTube . .
  39. Web site: - YouTube . .
  40. Web site: Kay2 tv official website. KAY2 TV is Pakistan's first multi-lingual television channel - HAWK EYE (EP # 14) (13-02-2015) . www.kay2.tv . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150329153115/http://kay2.tv/video_details.php?id=MTM3NQ. 2015-03-29.
  41. http://www.kay2.tv/video_details.php?id=NTk4OQ==
  42. Web site: - YouTube . .
  43. http://ccusa.info/bowlingStats?season=2016&tournament=US%20Open%20Cricket%202016
  44. Web site: Archived copy . 2017-05-04 . 2017-12-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171228041151/http://www.cricketcouncilusa.com/matches/scorecard/53055116972a703532d8cf44 . dead .
  45. Web site: Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver 2014/15 TEST Bowling Averages Records Cricket Statistics PCB.
  46. Web site: Group A: Pakistan International Airlines vs Pakistan Television at Lahore Cricket Scorecard Live Results PCB.
  47. Web site: Group D: Pakistan International Airlines vs Rawalpindi Rams at Karachi Cricket Scorecard Live Results PCB.
  48. Web site: ABN-AMRO Patron's Trophy, 2004/05 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com.
  49. Web site: Group A: Nepal Under-17s vs Pakistan Under-17s at Karachi Cricket Scorecard Live Results PCB.