Pakistan leg spinner Yasir Shah has taken inspiration by Australian spin legend Shane Warne and is determined to make an impact at next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Shah said that he started playing cricket because he idolized Warne, adding that the Australian has been his role model and he is keeping his fingers crossed that he can make the World Cup squad.
Warne, who finished with 708 Test and 293 ODI wickets, is rated as the greatest leg spinner in cricket history, Stuff.co.nz reported.
Shah said that Warne transformed cricket with his approach and aggression as a spinner, adding that he wants to emulate the Australian and it would be a dream come true if he can leave an impact in Australia.
Shah is in Pakistan's 30-man preliminary World Cup squad and, with experienced off-spinners Saeed Ajmal and Muhammad Hafeez suspended from bowling in international cricket, is in line to spearhead Pakistan's spin attack at the tournament.
Small town spinner Shah has been busy studying footage of Warne in preparation for a bigger role in one-day cricket. He said that he has watched Warne's videos and especially how the legend used to bowl on Australian pitches, adding that he is working very hard on disguising his googly and making it more effective.
The World Cup will get under way on February 14 next year with Australia and New Zealand to host the tournament together, the report added.
