Surgery ruled Naseem out of the 2023 World Cup, and indeed, from any professional cricket between the 2023 Asia Cup and the 2024 PSL. He has claimed at least one wicket in every match in this season of league so far.

He has looked impressive in bursts, but was yet to delivery that one exceptional performance.

In the match against the Lahore Qalandars at Rawalpindi, Naseem bowled the first over after Shadab Khan won the toss and opted to field. He pitched the first ball on a length, and it moved away, beating Sahibzada Farhan’s outside edge.

Farhan defended the next two balls. The fourth ball was slightly shorter and quicker, and Farhan, perhaps a tad impatient, tried to turn it towards leg. The ball took the leading edge and lobbed close to the batter.

Naseem beat the outside edge again with the fifth and the sixth ball. In fact, the umpire ruled Farhan caught-behind off the sixth, only for him to review and get the decision overturned.

Naseem bowled four more dot balls in his second over, though Farhan found a single and Fakhar Zaman put one away for four.

Watch Naseem Shah start a PSL match with a maiden over:

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A Naseem Shah maiden over to start the Pindi derby!!#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #IUvLQ pic.twitter.com/y7etYjyZtl

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 6, 2024