Syed Najaf Hussain Shah (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 has played his first One Day International game against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, UAE in 2007.[1][2][3] He is left-arm medium-fast bowler with ability to bat 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 living in Dallas Texas USA[6]

Najaf Shah
Personal information
Full name
Syed Najaf Hussain Shah
Born (1984-12-17) 17 December 1984 (age 39)
Gujar Khan, Pakistan
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingLeft-arm fast
RoleBowling
International information
National side
ODI debut22 May 2007 v Sri Lanka
Source: CricInfo, 15 August 2022

Early and personal life edit

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 edit

Pakistan national domestic matches edit

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 edit

Najaf's international career started through ICC Under-17 Asia cup, it was played in Pakistan during 2000/2001 cricket season then he played for Pakistan U-19 and Pakistan A for few years. In 2007, he was selected for Pakistan cricket Academy team to tour Bangladesh for tri series tournament involving Bangladesh and Sri Lanka teams.[12] This tour was helped him to make a strong case for national selectors 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
Year Team Vs Venue (Country)
2009 PCB Patron's XI[15] Sri Lanka Pakistan
2007 Pakistan A[16] Australia A Pakistan
2007 Pakistan[3] Sri Lanka UAE
2007 Pakistan Cricket Academy[17] Sri Lanka / Bangladesh Cricket Academy Bangladesh
2005 Pakistan A[18] Australia A Pakistan
2005 PCB Patron's XI[19] West Indies Pakistan
2005 PCB Patron's XI[20] England Pakistan
2005 Pakistan Cricket Academy[21] South Africa Cricket Academy Pakistan
2005 Pakistan A[22] Namibia Namibia
2005 Pakistan A[23] Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
2004 Pakistan A[24] Sri Lanka A Sri Lanka
2003 Pakistan A[25] UAE UAE
2000 Pakistan U-17[26] ICC Under-17 Asian Cup Pakistan

International cricket leagues and tournaments edit

International Tournaments
Year Team Tournaments Country
2016 US All Stars [27] US Open T20 Tournament Florida USA
2016 Smart Choice World XI[28] Diversity T20 Cup Michigan USA
2016 Grand Rapids CC[29] Midwest Cricket Conference League Chicago USA
2016 Virginia Cricket Club[30] Washington Cricket League USA
2015 Chicago Gymkhana Cricket Club[31] Midwest Cricket Conference League -

Unity Cup Chicago

USA
2013 Wirksworth Cricket Club[32] Derbyshire Cricket League England
2009 Kidsgrove Cricket Club[33] North Staffordshire South Cheshire Cricket League England
2008 Barlaston Cricket Club[34] North Staffordshire South Cheshire Cricket League England
2006 Ashcombe Park Cricket Club[35] North Staffordshire South Cheshire Cricket League England
2005 Burslem Cricket Club[36] North Staffordshire South Cheshire Cricket League England
2004 Burslem Cricket Club[36] North Staffordshire South Cheshire Cricket League England

Other contributions edit

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

TV cricket analyst edit

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 edit

  • Man Of The Match of final and Highest Wicket Taker of the Liberty Cup Chicago 2017[42]
  • Best bowler of US OPEN T20 tournament in Florida 2016[43]
  • Player of the match against Florida Strikers in US OPEN T20 Tournament 2016[44]
  • Best bowler of QUAID-E- AZAM trophy 2014/15(National Tournament)[45]
  • Player Of the match against PTV in departmental T20 tournament 2013/14(National Tournament)[46]
  • Player of the match against Rawalpindi Rams in ABN-AMRO Cup 2007-08(National Tournament)[47]
  • Best bowler of Patrons Trophy 2004/05(National Tournament)[48]
  • Player of the match against Nepal In ICC U-17 Asia Cup 2000/2001[49]

References edit

  1. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
  2. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
  3. ^ a b "Full Scorecard of Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 3rd ODI 2007 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com".
  4. ^ "Najaf Shah profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos".
  5. ^ "Najaf Shah profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos".
  6. ^ "Full Scorecard of PIA vs National Bnk Semi-Final 2004/05 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com".
  7. ^ "List A Matches Played by Najaf Shah | Official Cricket Records | PCB".
  8. ^ "Final: Khan Research Laboratories vs Pakistan International Airlines at Karachi |Cricket Scorecard | Live Results | PCB".
  9. ^ "Full Scorecard of Habib Bank vs PIA Final 2004/05 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com".
  10. ^ "ABN-AMRO Patron's Trophy 2004/05 | TEST Bowling Averages Records | Cricket Statistics | PCB".
  11. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver League, 2014/15 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com".
  12. ^ "Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy v Pakistan Cricket Academy: Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy vs Pakistan Cricket Academy at Mirpur |Cricket Scorecard | Live Results | PCB".
  13. ^ "Academy Tri-Series, 2006/07 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com".
  14. ^ "Pakistan Cricket Academy tour of Bangladesh, Apr-May 2007 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com".
  15. ^ "Full Scorecard of PCB Pat XI vs Sri Lankans Tour Match 2008/09 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com".
  16. ^ "Pakistan A v Australia A: Pakistan A vs Australia A at Lahore |Cricket Scorecard | Live Results | PCB". www.pcb.com.pk. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  17. ^ "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  18. ^ "Pakistan A v Australia A: Pakistan A vs Australia A at Rawalpindi |Cricket Scorecard | Live Results | PCB". www.pcb.com.pk. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  19. ^ "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  20. ^ "Trescothick puts bite back into toothless tourists". The Independent. 2005-11-01. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  21. ^ "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. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  22. ^ "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  23. ^ "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  24. ^ "Sri Lanka A v Pakistan A: Pakistan A vs Sri Lanka A at Dambulla |Cricket Scorecard | Live Results | PCB".
  25. ^ "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  26. ^ "ICC U-17 Asia Cup".
  27. ^ http://ccusa.info/playerprofile/b20b260a9468a746c6eabeb7?statType=bowling[dead link]
  28. ^ "diversity cup michigan 2016 - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  29. ^ "Pak Gymkhana vs GRCC Tigers | Scorecards | Midwest Cricket Conference on Chauka.in". mwcc.chauka.in. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  30. ^ http://oldweb.wclinc.com/viewplayer.php?player=n440s74836
  31. ^ "Challengers vs Chicago Gymkhana | Scorecards | Midwest Cricket Conference on Chauka.in". mwcc.chauka.in. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  32. ^ "W&M preparations are in full swing for 2013". www.matlockmercury.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  33. ^ "Cricket: Blythe maintain glimmer of hope as batsmen heed call". Stoke Sentinel. 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  34. ^ "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  35. ^ "Endon CC". endon.play-cricket.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  36. ^ a b "Registration Wall".
  37. ^ "Imran Khan's pacers hunting programme launched". nation.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2016-03-12.
  38. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
  39. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
  40. ^ "Kay2 tv official website. KAY2 TV is Pakistan's first multi-lingual television channel - HAWK EYE ( EP # 14 ) ( 13-02-2015 )". www.kay2.tv. Archived from the original on 2015-03-29.
  41. ^ http://www.kay2.tv/video_details.php?id=NTk4OQ==[dead link]
  42. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
  43. ^ http://ccusa.info/bowlingStats?season=2016&tournament=US%20Open%20Cricket%202016[dead link]
  44. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2017-05-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  45. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver 2014/15 | TEST Bowling Averages Records | Cricket Statistics | PCB".
  46. ^ "Group A: Pakistan International Airlines vs Pakistan Television at Lahore |Cricket Scorecard | Live Results | PCB".
  47. ^ "Group D: Pakistan International Airlines vs Rawalpindi Rams at Karachi |Cricket Scorecard | Live Results | PCB".
  48. ^ "ABN-AMRO Patron's Trophy, 2004/05 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com".
  49. ^ "Group A: Nepal Under-17s vs Pakistan Under-17s at Karachi |Cricket Scorecard | Live Results | PCB".

External links edit