Yasir fan Warne trains leg spinner

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Yasir fan Warne trains leg spinner
Shane Warne, watched by Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam, talks to the media at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Sharjah - Aussie heaps praise on the fast-rising Pakistani

By KT Report

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Published: Fri 30 Oct 2015, 10:51 PM

Last updated: Sat 5 Dec 2015, 5:17 PM

Shane Warne turned mentor for Pakistan's latest spin sensation - Yasir Shah - when the legendary Australian spinner turned up for Pakistan's practice session at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Warne spent over 90 minutes with Yasir and despite language barrier, heaped praise on the fast-rising Pakistan tweaker on his social media accounts. "Just finished a net session with Yasir Shah. He has the best leg break I've ever seen," he announced on his Instagram account. "He was ripping them by the end ! Thanks for having me at training Yasir, was an honour to work with you," he wrote.
Pakistan team had turned up for their first practice session since beating England by 178-runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium last Monday.
Yasir looked star-struck in front of his childhood hero and had to depend on his bowling coach Mustaq Ahmed, also a leg spinner, to act as an interpreter. "I had childhood wish that I could bowl with him (Warne)," Yasir told media after the nets.
"He spoke highly about me," the Pakistani spinner enthused.
Yasir said that the Australian legend gave him some useful tips. Two days ago, Warne had told media in Dubai that Yasir needs to be patient and same advise he gave the young spinner.
Yaisr, who spun Pakistan to thumping win in the second Test in Dubai, rose to number two in Test bowlers' rankings with his recent performance and stressed that he would continue to follow training tips by his team coach and former Pakistani leg spinner Mustaq Ahmed.
"I may use tips given by Warne in the long run but for this series, I don't intend to change my bowling style." The former Australian great admitted he has been a fan of Shah, who made his mark at international level last year.
He took 12 wickets in Pakistan's 2-0 series win over Australia in United Arab Emirates last year before taking 24 in the 2-1 win this year. "Look I have always been a fan of Shah since the first time I saw him a while ago, probably he is the best leg-spinner in the world, the way he bowls and the way the ball comes out of his hand."
Warne hoped the final Test would be exciting.
"It will be nice to have two leg-spinners on display," said Warne of Yasir and England's Adil Rashid.
"I think it will be great if Yasir and Rashid go right up there on the rankings and that will bring a big smile on my face, so I hope that both do well." Warne hoped Rashid will learn with time. "Rashid is also a wonderful bowler...it was tough against Pakistan's batsmen because they did wonderfully well against the spinners, so he will learn," said Warne of Rashid, who failed to get a wicket in the first innings of the Abu Dhabi Test but got five in the next.
Shah said it was a dream come true for him, bowling alongside his childhood idol, Warne.
"It was a childhood wish that I could bowl with him, play with him and I was excited to have him here for me. I am very happy to know the kind of feedback he gave me and that he spoke highly of me," said Shah of the session.
"He emphasised that Test cricket is played with patience and I don't need to rush and waste energy, I just need to keep myself calm."
- With inputs from agencies


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