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Yasir Shah

Yasir Shah
Yasir Shah Image: Wikimedia Commons. BBC Urdu / CC BY 3.0

Yasir Shah (Pashto: یاسر شاه; born 2 May 1986) is a Pakistani international cricketer who plays as a leg-spin bowler. He is widely recognised for his rapid accumulation of wickets in Test cricket, having become the fastest bowler in the history of the format to reach 200 Test wickets, and the joint-second fastest to 100 wickets.

Key facts

Full name Yasir Shah
Date of birth 2 May 1986
Nationality Pakistani
Role Bowler (leg-spin)
Test debut 22 October 2014, vs Australia (in the UAE)
Honour Sitara-i-Imtiaz (SI)
Notable record Fastest bowler to 200 Test wickets

Background

Yasir Shah hails from Pakistan and bowls right-arm leg break. He emerged through Pakistan's domestic cricket structure before being selected for the national side in the longer format.

International career

Test debut and early years

Shah made his Test debut for Pakistan against Australia in the United Arab Emirates on 22 October 2014. The UAE served as Pakistan's home venue for international Test matches during this period.

Fastest Pakistani to 50 Test wickets

During Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka, Shah became the fastest bowler from Pakistan to claim 50 wickets in Test cricket, marking him as a leading spin option for the national side.

Doping suspension (2015–2016)

From December 2015 to March 2016, Shah served a three-month ban from all forms of cricket imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). A sample provided by him was found to contain chlortalidone, a substance listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) prohibited list of diuretics and masking agents.

Record-breaking 200th Test wicket

In December 2018, during Pakistan's Test series against New Zealand, Shah became the fastest bowler in the history of Test cricket to take 200 wickets, breaking a record that had stood for 82 years and was previously held by Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett.

Significance

Yasir Shah's career is significant in the modern history of spin bowling. By overtaking Grimmett's long-standing record for the fastest 200 Test wickets, he reasserted the relevance of wrist spin in contemporary Test cricket and continued Pakistan's tradition of producing internationally prominent spin bowlers. He has also been honoured by the Government of Pakistan with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, a civil award.

Timeline

  • 2 May 1986 – Born in Pakistan.
  • 22 October 2014 – Test debut for Pakistan against Australia in the UAE.
  • December 2015 – March 2016 – Three-month ICC ban after a sample tested positive for chlortalidone.
  • December 2018 – Becomes the fastest bowler to 200 Test wickets, against New Zealand.

References