Why Yasir Shah’s Brilliant Hundred Should Not Be Enough To Save His Place In Pakistan’s Test XI Outside Of Asian Conditions

Yasir Shah’s brilliant hundred has been the highlight of the Adelaide Test. Nevertheless, here is a look at why the leg-spinner’s stunning effort might not be enough to save his place in Pakistan’s Test XI outside of Asian conditions.

Read: Why Mohd. Rizwan Has Taken Over From Sarfaraz Ahmed In The Tests And ODIs But Is Still Likely To Struggle In The T20 Format

Poor Bowling Form

Yasir Shah has leaked runs while bowling throughout the two match Test series in Australia. His effort during the Adelaide Test in particular where he gave away 197 runs in 32 overs at an average of 6.15 was embarrassing to say the least. His form throughout the Australian tour has been poor and hence, Pakistan needs to think of creating back ups.

Read: As Fawad Alam Scores Another Double Century In The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy; We Look At Karachites In PCB Who Continued To Ignore Him!

Has Been A Liability In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa

Yasir Shah has never really delivered in Australia, new Zealand and South Africa. As a matter of fact the leg-spinner has been extremely ineffective outside of Asia. England then is the only exception but even in English conditions he has failed to deliver on a consistent basis. Hence, while he still merits a place in the West Indies and Zimbabwe; the time is right for Pakistan to discard the leggie for tours outside of Asia or in countries where conditions are not similar to the continent.

Read: 5 Not So Famous Pakistani Sports Personalities

Can He Be Used As An All-rounder?

While Yasir Shah’s brilliant hundred has raised his status as a valuable tail-end batsman; he can’t be termed as an all-rounder yet. The 33 year old needs to put up a few more good scores and that too on a consistent basis for the Pakistani selectors to consider him a worthy all-round option in countries like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Hence, he has got to perform big during the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and not just with the ball but even with the bat to keep his place in the playing eleven outside of Asian conditions.

Who Can Replace Him?

Shahdab Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Bilal Asif and Zafar Gohar are all talented spinners who have the ability to add a few runs with the bat as well. So, the home series next is the ideal time for Pakistan test any one of them at the Test level.