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.
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.