Back injury forces Yasir out of Australia tour match

Cairns [Australia]: Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah has been ruled out of the warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI due to a back injury.

Yasir hurt his back during a training session at the Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns and is now battling to be fit for the first Test of the three-match series against Australia beginning December 15 at the Gabba.

According to the ESPNcricinfo, Yasir is being treated by a doctor in Cairns, and has been advised a few days’ rest.

Yasir, who made his debut in October 2014, has quickly developed into Pakistan’s first-choice spinner and has so far missed just one Test, which was against England in Abu Dhabi in October last year due to back spasms.

In July, he became the first leg-spinner since Shane Warne to be ranked the No. 1 Test bowler, and also the first Pakistan bowler since Mushtaq Ahmed in December 1996 to achieve the feat.

Pakistan will play a three-day tour game against CA XI from December 8. (ANI)