Pakistan vs Australia: Yasir Shah targets to pick 20 wickets in the Test series

Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah has set his gaze on bagging a total of 20 wickets in the two-match Test series against Australia in the UAE. The visitors, led by wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine, will be without three of their premier batsmen Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. The trio is currently serving bans following their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal which rocked the Australian cricket earlier this year.

Australia are fielding 3 debutants in their XI in the ongoing first Test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The experienced Aaron Finch has finally got his maiden Test cap, while Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head are also representing their country for the first time in the longest format.

Meanwhile, the legspinner Yasir Shah is also making a comeback in this series after a long injury layoff. He last played a Test match for Pakistan exactly a year ago against Sri Lanka, at the same venue.

“I have a target of 20 wickets. I know how important it will be to take wickets so that remains my target and for the team to win the series which is very important,” Yasir was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

We won’t take them lightly

The 32-year-old felt Australia will certainly miss Steve Smith and David Warner in their setup during this Test series. However, he clarified that Pakistan wasn’t taking this Australian side lightly.

“No doubt, Smith and Warner are two world-class players and Australia will miss them. They know the art of staying at the wicket so that will be missed by Australia. But we can’t take any team lightly. You can’t say they are weak, maybe inexperienced. They’re always a strong side. That series (in 2014) was my first and so I’m going to try to improve on that,” he concluded.

Back in 2014, Yasir, along with left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, shared 26 wickets to rout Australia 2-0 in the UAE and the leg-spinner is eyeing a greater triumph this time around.

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