Yasir Shah is a Pakistani leg‑spinner, born on 2 May 1986 in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He is best known for being the fastest bowler in Test history to reach 200 wickets and remains one of Pakistan’s greatest spin bowlers of the modern era.
Personal Profile
- Full Name: Yasir Shah SI
- Born: 2 May 1986, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- Age: 39 years (as of March 2026)
- Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
- Batting Style: Right‑handed
- Bowling Style: Right‑arm leg break
- Role: Bowler
- Relations: Cousin of Junaid Khan and Fawad Ahmed
- National Side: Pakistan (2011–2022)
- Domestic/Franchise Teams: Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore Qalandars, Dhaka Dynamites, Kent, Brisbane Heat, Trinbago Knight Riders, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, Abbottabad Rhinos, Pakistan Customs
Yasir Shah Statistics
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Bowling Avg | Runs | Bat Avg | Top Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 48 | 235 | 8/41 | 31.1 | 918 | 14.1 | 113 |
| ODIs | 25 | 24 | 2/25 | 46.3 | 127 | 18.1 | 32 |
| T20Is | 2 | 3 | 2/20 | 23.3 | 11 | – | 11 |
Career Highlights
- Test Debut: 22 October 2014 vs Australia.
- Fastest to 200 Test Wickets: Achieved in just 33 matches, breaking Clarrie Grimmett’s 82‑year record.
- Joint‑Second Fastest to 100 Test Wickets: Reached in 17 matches.
- Best Figures: 8/41 against New Zealand in Dubai (2018).
- Batting Highlight: Scored a Test century (113) against Australia in 2019.
- Awards: Sitara‑i‑Imtiaz (SI) for services to cricket.
Style of Play
- Bowling: Classical leg‑spin with sharp turn, deceptive googlies, and relentless accuracy.
- Batting: Lower‑order contributor, occasionally producing valuable innings.
- Temperament: Competitive, resilient, and a match‑winner in Asian conditions.
Legacy
Yasir Shah is widely regarded as Pakistan’s greatest leg‑spinner since Abdul Qadir. His rapid wicket milestones and match‑winning spells in the UAE and Asia cement his place among the world’s elite spinners. Though his last international match was in 2022, he continues to play domestic and franchise cricket, mentoring younger spinners and contributing to Pakistan’s cricketing legacy.
See More: Yasir Hameed