Yasir Shah laments lack of Test cricket between India and Pakistan

Pakistan’s premier leg-spinner Yasir Shah is one of the best spinners in Test match cricket but the right-hander is currently going through a rough patch. Yasir, in his eight-year-old Test career, has played against the best in the world, but if there is one team that he hasn’t got the opportunity to test his skills against, is Team India.

And, according to Yasir Shah, it is unfortunate that he has not played a single Test match against the likes of Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and co. The last time India and Pakistan locked horns in a Test series, Sourav Ganguly was still playing International cricket, Virat Kohli or none of the current Indian and Pakistani cricketers had made their International debut and it was still two years before Pakistan would go through ten-year ordeal as far as hosting cricket in their country was concerned.

Since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, India and Pakistan have mostly squared off in ICC events and Asia Cups. Then last bilateral series between the two nations took place in 2012-13 when Pakistan came to India for a string of white-ball internationals.

“It is unfortunate and I feel disappointed when I think about the fact that I have not played a Test awhite-ballia. Even the white-ball matches have been far and few against them in recent years. I would like to play against them because they have some top players and for a leg-spinner, it is always enjoyable when you are bowling to or getting wickets of high profile players (like Kohli).

“You feel it at times but it is something beyond the control of players, so we can’t do anything. But yes I would love to get a chance to play a Test against them (India) soon,” Yasir Shah said as quoted by Indian Express.

Yasir Shah will be looking to turn around his fortunes in the Karachi Test

Yasir Shah, courtesy a disappointing Australian tour where he averaged over a hundred with the ball was dropped from the team for the 1st Test against Sri Lanka and was released from the squad to go to National Cricket Academy to work with the newly-appointed spin-bowling consultant Mushtaq Ahmed.

However, Shah said that he was informed by the team-management and Misbah-ul-Haq that the decision was taken keeping the weather conditions in mind. He also added that the ball is coming out of his hands much better after having worked with Mushtaq Ahmed.

“I was okay with the decision and I also felt it was a good idea to go down to Lahore at the National Cricket Academy and spend some time with Mushtaq Ahmed (PCB’s spin consultant). The three days he worked with me it has helped me a lot and made my mind very clear. I am now looking forward to taking wickets in the second Test at Karachi.

“I think the ball is coming out much better now out of my palm and I am feeling more confident after working at the NCA with Mushtaq Ahmed,” the leggie further added.

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