Yasir doubtful with back spasm ahead of first Test against England

Pakistan's Yasir Shah (right) suffered a back spasm in the nets on Monday and is making a desperate effort to get ready for the first Test.

 After a dream debut against Australia, Yasir Shah was licking his lips at the prospect of inflicting pain against Ashes-winning England. But even before a ball has been bowled in this Abu Dhabi Test, it is he, who is the one in pain.
And it couldn't have happened at a worse time. The leg spinner suffered a back spasm on the eve of the first Test and is making a last ditch effort, albeit with painkillers, to be fit to face England at the Zayed Cricket Stadium from Tuesday.
There is still a glimmer of hope that Shah could front up against the English on the morrow but the team management aren't taking any chances and have already sounded out left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar, as a precaution.

From being a settled line-up leading up to the Test, Shah's probable absence has thrown Pakistan's plans in a bit of disarray. Ever since Saeed Ajmal was banished into wilderness, Shah has stepped up and made sure Pakistan have not missed Ajmal.
The 29-year-old Shah, along with left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, foxed the Australians last year with the pair hunting 26 wickets between them. Shah had 12, while Babar returned with 14.
Shah, who has 61 wickets in 10 Tests, the fastest Pakistani to reach 50 wickets, along with Babar were touted to be the main weapons against England in this three-match series but now, captain Misbah ul Haq might have to tweak his bowling attack and hand eight first class matches old Gohar his international debut.
Gohar was in the UAE with the Pakistan 'A' side and took five wickets against England in two warm-up matches. But then, Pakistan still might not go down that route as Shoaib Malik's inclusion for an injured Azhar Ali, gives Misbah a spin bowling option. Malik will slot in at No.3 in the batting line-up and is a handy off-spinner as well.
Otherwise, Pakistan don't have any other issues to fret about.
This Test series, though is poised to be memorable for different reasons, for two veterans of the side -Misbah and Younis Khan.
Misbah has hinted that this could be his farewell series, in case India refuse to play Pakistan here in the UAE, in December. Despite being on the other side of 40, Misbah still looks fitter than ever but with Pakistan not having any Test assignments until they tour England next summer, this might well be his swansong.
Abu Dhabi also holds a special place for Misbah as he has five hundreds in seven Tests at this venue. And it was here that he cracked back-to-back hundreds in the same Test against the Australians, including equalling Viv Richards' record for the fastest ton.
And Younis Khan is 19 runs away from passing Javed Miandad to become Pakistan's leading run scorer. Miandad has 8,832 runs from 124 Tests, while Younis, who has scored 30 centuries, has 8,814 runs from 101 Tests. Meanwhile, England have an injury worry of their own with quick Steven Finn ruled out of selection because of a bone stress injury. Mark Wood has benefited from that as it was set to be a shoot-out between the two. Moeen Ali is set to walk out to open with captain Alastair Cook and they will also be heavily dependent on Joe Root as well as Ian Bell.
james@khaleejtimes.com