SYDNEY – Leg-spinner Yasir Shah is ruled out of the warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns after sustaining a back injury, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old felt discomfort while participating in a training session in Cairns and has been advised few days of rest.
Shah, has been Pakistan’s go to spinner in the last few years ever since Saeed Ajmal was suspended with an illegal bowling action. However, his performances in the last one-year allowed the selectors to sideline Ajmal despite the International Cricket Council clearing his action.
In the series against England and West Indies, Shah picked 40 wickets from seven Tests but failed to create an impact against Black Caps in Christchurch and was dropped for the subsequent game in Hamilton where Pakistan decided to go for all pace attack.
In the 20 Test matches, Shah has played, he has picked 116 wickets at an average close to 28 and has eight five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls.
Pakistan will play a three-day warm up game between 8th and 10th December against Cricket Australia XI in Cairns before they head to the first Test against Australia in Brisbane which is also a day-night encounter on 15th December.
