Veteran Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah has suggested that his distinguished cricket career may soon come to an end. The 39-year-old revealed he is considering retirement following discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and his decision to opt out of domestic cricket for the current season.
In an interview with a local news outlet, Yasir shared that he would finalize his decision after further talks with the PCB. “I am not playing domestic cricket this year. God willing, I will finalize my decision after meeting with the PCB,” Yasir said.
One of Pakistan’s most accomplished Test bowlers, Yasir has represented the country in 48 Test matches, taking 244 wickets at an average of 31.38. He was particularly dominant in UAE conditions, where he claimed 116 wickets at an impressive average of 24.56.
Yasir’s last appearance for Pakistan came in 2022, during a Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle. His last ODI was in 2019 against England in Southampton. Notably, Yasir also holds the record for being the fastest bowler to reach 200 Test wickets, achieving the milestone in just 33 matches.
Reflecting on the current national team, Yasir expressed satisfaction with their recent performances. “The Pakistan team is doing well. They have won their last two T20 matches. Our prayers are always with them,” he stated.
Regarding Mohammad Rizwan’s removal from the ODI captaincy and his earlier exclusion from the T20 squad, Yasir empathized with his teammate. He drew parallels to his own experiences of being sidelined despite strong performances. “Our effort as players is always to perform for Pakistan. Rizwan is doing that as well. Whichever player the selectors choose as captain, the entire team supports him,” he said.
Yasir also addressed his absence from the national setup, clarifying that it was not due to poor performance. “Sometimes these things happen. My performances were good. Earlier, I had a knee injury, and they assumed it had returned. I told them that if fitness was the issue, they should conduct a fitness test. But no such reason was officially given,” Yasir explained.
Though Yasir’s white-ball record was not as impressive as his Test career, with 24 wickets from 25 ODIs and no wickets in two T20Is, his legacy in Test cricket remains significant.
