With Naseem Shah in Pakistan’s line-up against Australia in Brisbane at the tender age of 16, the youngster has become one of the youngest Test cricketers of all time.
Here’s a look at the 10 youngest male players on record to have turned out in the longest format.
Hasan Raza
Age on debut: 14 years, 227 days
Nationality: Pakistan
While he made his Test debut at just 14 against Zimbabwe in 1996, Raza’s Test career failed to ever truly take off. Despite consistent run-scoring throughout his first-class career, he played his seventh and final Test against England in 2005.
Mushtaq Mohammad
Age on debut: 16 years, 223 days
Nationality: Bangladesh
After a stunning start to his Test career – he bowled Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene in his first spell in the format – Jubair was another young quick who found difficulty cementing a long-term spot in the Bangladesh team. He played his last Test at the age of just 18.
Nasim-ul-Ghani
Age on debut: 16 years, 248 days
Nationality: Pakistan
At the time of his debut, ul-Ghani was the youngest Test cricketer of all time. And what a debut it was. A left-arm spinner, ul-Ghani’s maiden Test appearance came against a mighty West Indies side boasting the likes of Rohan Kanhai, Garfield Sobers, Clyde Walcott and Everton Weekes. He went on to play 28 more times for his country and managed to put his name on the Lord’s honours board with a century against England in 1962.
Naseem Shah
Naseem Shah is just 16 years old! 🚀pic.twitter.com/hnECmM9EyO
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 13, 2019
Age at debut: 16 years, 279 days
Nationality: Pakistan
A genuine quick bowler who enters his first Test match with a formidable first-class record, albeit from a small sample size. With 27 first-class wickets at an average of just 16.66, much is expected from young Shah as Pakistan aim to seal their first ever Test series win in Australia.
Enamul Haque jnr
Age at debut: 16 years, 320 days
Nationality: Bangladesh
In and out of the Bangladesh side for a decade, left-arm spinner Haque has found it difficult to translate his impressive first-class record into regular success in the Test arena, with his 44 wickets coming in 15 Tests at an average of 40.61.
