Naseem Shah is not playing currently mainly due to fitness and injury-related issues. He has been dealing with minor pains and injuries, including a left calf injury sustained in late 2024 and some ongoing minor pain that has kept him unfit for selection recently. There is no report of a serious injury but workload management and fitness concerns have impacted his availability for matches, such as the recent T20Is and potentially the Asia Cup 2025. Additionally, his recent form has been poor, leading selectors to look beyond him for some series. Selection decisions and merit-based considerations have also played a role, with critics pointing out his lack of consistent performances and suggesting other in-form players could take his place. Naseem remains part of the broader Pakistan squad but has been left out of playing elevens for several series for recovery and performance reasons.