I have worked hard on my fitness and lost 3-4 Kgs: Yasir Shah

Pakistan’s right-arm leg break bowler Yasir Shah has impressed the who’s who of the cricket fraternity with his grit and character during the Test series against South Africa. In recent times, Shah has emerged as the mainstay of Pakistan’s bowling line-up in the purest format of the game and is the joint-second fastest bowler in the history of Test cricket to take 100 wickets along with being the fastest to pick up 200 wickets.

Touring Pakistan after a long span of 13 years, South Africa isn’t enjoying an ideal outing in the first Test match at the National Stadium in Karachi as Pakistan’s Yasir Shah went all guns blazing against the opponents feeble batting line-up. The 34-year-old helped the hosts in bundling out Africa for a below-par total of 220 runs in the the first innings by taking a three-wicket haul.

Shah named the wickets of Faf du Plessis, Anrich Nortje and Keshav Maharaj. Apart from Shah, Nauman Ali and Shaheen Afridi scalped two wickets each in the first innings while Hasan Ali had one under his belt.

Yasir Shah credits Younis Khan for motivating him

South Africa’s second batting innings saw the same fate as the 34-year-old Shah again weaved his magic to rattle the opposition batsmen. He took three priced wickets of Rassie van der Dussen, Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis to help Pakistan dominate the game as SA reeled at 187 for 4, with a lead of 29 runs, at stumps on Day 4.

The 34-year-old spinner credited Pakistan’s veteran right-handed batsman Younis Khan, who represented Pakistan in 118 Test matches and 265 One Day Internationals, for motivating and guiding him regarding his game and fitness. Shah revealed that Younis had given him a target of reducing his weight which inspired him to work hard on his fitness and lose about 3-4 Kgs of weight. He further added that he felt good after fulfilling the commitment he made to Younis.

Yasir Shah – “Younis Khan has really motivated me and he gave me a target for reducing my weight. I have worked hard on my fitness for this series where I have lost 3-4 Kgs and I have fulfilled the commitment I made to him” #PakvSA #Cricket,” a Pakistan journalist Saj Sadiq tweeted.

Yasir Shah "Younis Khan has really motivated me and he gave me a target for reducing my weight. I have worked hard on my fitness for this series where I have lost 3-4 Kgs and I have fulfilled the commitment I made to him" #PakvSA #Cricket pic.twitter.com/nHtZMeQ89e

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) January 28, 2021