Yasir Shah is living up to Shane Warne’s prediction

Pakistnai leg-spinner Yasir Shah is living up to the expectations set for him but Shane Warne. Aamir Qureshi / AFP

DUBAI // Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, endorsed Shane Warne's view that Yasir Shah, the rookie legspinner, is capable of taking in excess of 200 Test wickets.

In the second innings against New Zealand, the 28-year-old newcomer picked up his first five-wicket haul, in his fourth Test match.

Warne is something of a mentor for Yasir, given that he honed his trade by watching YouTube clips of the great Australian when he was growing up.

He admitted to being thrilled by praise from Warne, who suggested on social media during last month’s series against Australia that Yasir could take over 200 Test wickets.

He already has 23 in just four games, at a strike-rate of one every 45.5 deliveries, and Misbah thinks he is capable of making good on Warne’s prophesy.

“Yes, he can do that. It is all dependent on how he goes on from now,” Misbah said, after Yasir and his spin partner Zulfiqar Babar took all nine wickets that fell in New Zealand’s second innings.

“He needs to learn quickly, especially the areas in which he can improve.

“Obviously, the coach [Mushtaq Ahmed] is working with him on this.

“But he has a really good temperament. The way he is performing in his early Test matches is wonderful, and I have no doubts that he can do that.

“It is totally up to him now, how he carries himself, but he has got the potential.”

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