Yasir Shah made his first-class debut in February 2002 but had to wait nine years to play international cricket. An ODI and two T20s later, he was back out of the reckoning, seemingly forgotten forever. The recall, when it arrived, came at a time of crisis for Pakistan, when Saeed Ajmal was banned for chucking in September 2014.
Yasir didn’t just grab the opportunity; he made everyone forget they were supposed to miss Ajmal, spinning his way to 12 wickets in his debut series at an average of just over 17, as Pakistan whitewashed Australia 2-0. Bounding in with the energy of his spiritual forbears Abdul Qadir and Mushtaq Ahmed, but with the legbreak rather than the googly as his go-to weapon, Yasir quickly won a horde of admirers including Shane Warne, who praised his “energy and shape on the ball, also his over spinner and patience”, and proclaimed he would finish with more than 200 Test wickets.
Just over seven months later, Yasir was one-quarter of his way to fulfilling Warne’s prediction. He became the quickest Pakistan bowler to 50 Test wickets, getting there in nine matches, while inspiring his side to a 2-1 series win in Sri Lanka with 24 wickets at 19.33.
Courtesy of espncricinfo.com
