Indian offie tweets congratulatory messages to Pakistan leg-spinner before and after his record-breaking feat in Test against West Indies
Pakistan's Yasir Shah bowls on the third day of the first day-night Test against West Indies in Dubai on Saturday. Pic/AFP. Inset: Ravichandran Ashwin
Pakistan's Yasir Shah bowls on the third day of the first day-night Test against West Indies in Dubai on Saturday. Pic/AFP. Inset: Ravichandran Ashwin
Dubai: Before the day-night Test at Dubai got underway, India's ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin became a rage in Pakistan. Ashwin tweeted good wishes for Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who was five short of his 100th Test wicket. Yasir had raced to 95 wickets in just 16 Tests, since making his debut in 2014.
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Before Yasir, the record for the fastest bowler from Asia to 100 Test wickets was held by Ashwin who had taken those wickets in 18. Hence in the middle of the rising political tensions between the two countries, Ashwin's tweet brought him fresh set of fans from across the border.
Breaks Ashwin's record
Yasir broke Ashwin's record yesterday and managed to become the joint second-fastest bowler to take 100 Test scalps after 17 Tests when he scalped Miguel Cummins. Yasir joined three other bowlers — Australian duo of Charlie Turner and Clarrie Grimmett and England's Sydney Barnes — who had taken 100 wickets in their 17th Test. In the process, Yasir also bettered the record of compatriot Saeed Ajmal who had taken 100 wickets in 19 Tests.
The fastest to 100 Test wickets remains England's George Lohmann who reached the milestone in just 16 Tests in 1896. When Yasir broke his record, Ashwin yet again tweeted congratulations to the Pakistan leggie, urging him to double his tally. Ashwin is sure to gain more fans from Pakistan, but Yasir too is set to gain more fans across the world.
Yasir, the destroyer
Usually a destroyer of top-order batting, Yasir's spell ensured that he hastened the downfall of West Indies lower-order at the Dubai International Stadium. On the fourth day, West Indies slipped from an overnight 315 -6 to 357, thereby handing Pakistan a lead of 222 runs.
Yasir's spell was crucial in the overall collapse of West Indies after the top-order had mounted a strong resistance to the varied Pakistan bowling attack. Yasir's 5-121 was the best figures for Pakistan in the innings. In what has been an eventful year for Yasir, yesterday's spell added yet another chapter to his colourful 2016.
16
Number of Tests England's medium-pacer George Lohmann took to reach 100 wickets in 1896
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