Naseem Shah Eyes ODI Tri-Series After Injury ComebackSports

The 23-year-old, who turns 24 next February, has endured a stop-start career since his teenage debut. His major setback came when a shoulder injury ruled him out of the 2023 ICC World Cup, and his latest layoff was caused by a back injury suffered during the 2026 Pakistan Super League.

Speaking in an interview released by the PCB Digital channel, Naseem said maturity had changed the way he thought about fast bowling. He acknowledged that raw pace alone was no longer enough, explaining that bowlers needed to understand how batters think and rely on skill and planning, especially on the flat, high-scoring surfaces common in modern white-ball cricket.

<h2>Building towards the 2027 World Cup</h2> Naseem has been named in Pakistan&#8217;s squad for the ODI tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka, scheduled to run from October 18 to 31 with matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore. The series forms part of Pakistan&#8217;s early preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, where the side will begin its campaign against Afghanistan.

The pacer has already shown he can dominate in the 50-over format. He has claimed 60 wickets in 34 one-day internationals at an average of 25.91, including back-to-back five-wicket hauls — five for 33 against the Netherlands in August 2022 and five for 57 against New Zealand five months later — a sequence that made him only the sixth Pakistan bowler to take at least two consecutive five-fors in ODIs.

Having missed the 2023 World Cup through injury, the tournament in South Africa is a clear target. With 93 international appearances and 155 wickets across formats already to his name, Naseem believes his best cricket is still ahead of him and wants his performances to speak for themselves.

<h2>Maaz targets the big prize too</h2> Meanwhile, young opener Maaz Sadaqat, 21, has set his sights on the same World Cup despite being left out of the ODI tri-series squad. Maaz impressed in the T20I series against Sri Lanka with consecutive half-centuries, but he remains on the outside of the ODI setup having played six one-dayers, including his debut, earlier this year.

The left-hander says he plans to use the next 15 to 20 days to work on his game and keep the pressure on the established openers, insisting he is ready to bat anywhere in the order if it earns him a place in the World Cup squad.

Under head coach Mike Hesson and ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan&#8217;s white-ball setup is balancing youth with experience as it builds towards 2027. On the evidence of his comeback, Naseem looks set to be a central part of those plans — provided his body allows him to stay on the field.