ICC bans leg spinner Yasir Shah for three months

International Cricket Council (ICC) has banned star Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah from playing for three months. The decision was taken by the apex council on Sunday.

Shah has been banned for testing positive for a prohibited substance in December. The 29-year-old leg-spinner will be available to play again on March 27.

He was provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on December 27 after testing positive for chlortalidone, a diuretic used to treat hypertension that is listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency s banned list of masking agents. Chlortalidone also treats high blood pressure. And, reportedly, Yasir Shah had taken his wife’s blood pressure medication, unaware of the banned substance contained in the drug.

Shah, whose test was conducted on November 13 during the one-day series against England in the United Arab Emirates, has recently emerged as a match-winner in Test cricket and is the top ranked spinner in that format.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said the board’s medical panel had met after receiving more details from the ICC on Shah’ s case, and had decided not to request a second urine sample.

Shah has been a match-winner for Pakistan in Test cricket after replacing off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who was banned for illegal action after it was reported in 2014.

Shah took 24 wickets in Pakistan’s 2-1 series win in Sri Lanka in July and another 15 in a 2-0 Test win over England in November. He has so far taken 76 wickets in 12 Tests he played for his country and holds the record for being the fastest Pakistani bowler to reach the 50-wicket mark.