Leggie Shadab shines with career best figures

Pakistan leg spinner Shadab Khan emerged as the standout performer after grabbing six wickets for 77 runs against Northamptonshire on day one of the second warm up match at Northampton.

The leggie expressed delight over his recent performance, as he restricted the hosts on 259 runs, claiming his second fiver in first-class cricket, playing in hi his ninth first-class match.

“Yeah I am very happy because it’s my second first-class fiver,” said Khan, quoted ESPNcricinfo. Speaking about Pakistan’s senior leggie Yasir Shah, who could not be a part of the tour due to injury, Shadab said that he wanted to ‘grab the chance.’

“Yasir Shah performed very well for Pakistan, now I get chance in the Test team so I wanted to grab that chance,” said Shadab. The youngster will be making his Test debut alongside a number of players for Pakistan in the upcoming Test series against Ireland and England.

Earlier, Pakistan's seamer Rahat Ali picked up the opening wicket of the day with a ball that nipped back to trap Ben Duckett lbw. His second wicket was Steven Crook caught at third man while top-edging a cut. Meanwhile, fellow pacers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Abbas remained wicket-less.

Pakistan will play against Ireland, which will be their first-ever Test against Pakistan from May 11 to May 15 in Dublin. Pakistan will then play two Tests against England at Lord’s from May 24 to May 28 and Headingley from June 1 to June 5.