Pakistan leg-spinner, Yasir Shah, has surpassed legendary-spinner Abdul Qadir to become Pakistan’s fifth leading wicket-taker bowler in Test cricket, after taking five wickets in the first Test match against Sri Lanka at Galle Stadium. This is an incredible achievement for Shah, who has only been playing Test cricket for four years.
Shah needed two more wickets to surpass the legendary leg-breaker, Abdul Qadir, before sending Sri Lankan batters, Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews back to the pavilion in the first Test match at Galle.
Yasir Shah, who returned to the national team after a nearly one-year absence, is now just behind Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan, and Danish Kaneria on the list. He achieved the milestone in just 47 matches.
Here is the list of most wicket-takers in Test cricket for Pakistan:
Player | Mat | Inns | Runs | Wkts | Ave | Econ |
Wasim Akram | 104 | 181 | 9779 | 414 | 23.62 | 2.59 |
Waqar Younis | 87 | 154 | 8788 | 373 | 23.56 | 3.25 |
Imran Khan | 88 | 142 | 8258 | 362 | 22.81 | 2.54 |
Danish Kaneria | 61 | 112 | 9082 | 261 | 34.79 | 3.07 |
Yasir Shah | 47* | 86 | 7345 | 237 | 30.99 | 3.19 |
Abdul Qadir | 67 | 111 | 7742 | 236 | 32.80 | 2.71 |
Yasir Shah, who made his international debut in 2014, holds a number of records for Pakistani bowlers. He is the fastest to take 50 Test wickets, the joint-second fastest bowler in Test cricket history to take 100 wickets, and the fastest to take 200 wickets.
Pakistan is currently in a commanding position in the first Test match in Galle, thanks to an outstanding performance by the bowling department on the first day of the match.
Shaheen and Yasir took three and two wickets each, Naseem, Hasan, and Nawaz each took one wicket, and Dinesh Chandimal, who scored a double century against Australia, is on 53.