He's the cousin of Pakistan fast-bowler Junaid Khan as well as of Australian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed.

Shah has played for numerous teams in the Pakistani first-class domestic cricket circuit, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cricket team, Pakistan A cricket team, Abbottabad Rhinos, Pakistan Customs cricket team, and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited. He has also played cricket for the Pakistan A cricket team. He was selected to play for Brisbane Heat for the 2017 BBL along with fellow Pakistani Shadab Khan

Shah played his first international match, the third game of the one-day international series on Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe, on 14 September 2011. In the game, he took 2 for 51 runs (10 overs). The wickets were of Zimbabwean opener Vusi Sibanda and star wicketkeeper-batsman Tatenda Taibu.

Test cricket

Shah made his Test debut against Australia, who toured to UAE in 2014. He was picked in place of Saeed Ajmal, who was banned for an illegal bowling action. In the first Test, he picked up 7 for 116 with Steve Smith becoming his first wicket. He helped the team to win the match by 221 runs. In the second Test, he picked 5 for 91 which results a 356 runs win and a whitewash for Australia. He picked 12 for 207, second highest wicket taker of that series.

In June 2015 while on the tour against Sri Lanka, Shah become the first Pakistani bowler to take 50 test wickets in just nine matches. He has become the first Pak