Pakistan suffered a stinging setback Monday ahead of its Test tours of Ireland and England, after key leg-spinner Yasir Shah was ruled out with a hip-bone injury.
The 31-year-old has been key to Pakistan’s Test wins since 2014, having taken 165 wickets in 28 Test matches. Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq confirmed that the spinner will not be available for the tours.
“Yasir is ruled out of the Ireland and England Test tours and it’s a big blow. It’s a big loss for the team,” Inzamam told local media. Medical reports said that Yasir suffered a hip-bone stress fracture and needs four weeks rest, in addition to another six for rehabilitation.
Inzamam said that Pakistan called on teenage leg-spinner Shadab Khan, off-spinner Bilal Asif and left-arm slow bowler Kashif Bhatti to fill in the gap.
Shadab has taken just one wicket in a single Test appearance in Barbados in 2017, while the others have yet to play a Test. Yasir has taken 89 wickets in 16 of the 17 Tests Pakistan has played under head coach Mickey Arthur, since May 2016.
He took a match-winning 10 wickets in Pakistan’s victory at Lord’s in 2016, on its way to a 2-2 series draw in England. The leg-spinner also raced to 100 wickets in 17 Tests, while also taking 150 wickets in 27 Tests — the second fastest player in Pakistan to achieve both milestones.
Pakistan will be Ireland’s inaugural Test opponent in Dublin, from May 11-15, before playing two Tests against England. The first Test is at Lord’s from May 24-28, while the second is at Leeds from June 1-5.