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Pak spinner Yasir Shah wishes for a face-off with India's R Ashwin
October 17, 2016 12:01 IST

IMAGE: Pakistan's Yasir Shah celebrates. Photograph: Francois Nel/Getty Images.

The BCCI president Anurag Thakur may have taken a tough stand against the resumption of India-Pakistan cricket ties, but Pakistan's premier spinner Yasir Shah is keen on having a face-off with India's spin magician Ravichandran Ashwin.

Shah became the joint-second fastest to 100 wickets in all Test cricket when he took 5 for 121 in his 17th match against West Indies in the first day-night Test in Dubai on Sunday.

Ashwin meanwhile became the second fastest to 200 wickets in the recently concluded home series against New Zealand.

"Every Pakistani and Indian player has this wish to play against each other," said Shah. "I have not played a Test against India so it's my wish," Shah said.

Ashwin had made his Test debut in 2011 while Shah has only started playing Tests two years ago.

IMAGE: India's Ravichandran Ashwin looks on during a training session. Photograph: Philip Brown/Reuters

But both have crossed paths in a Wold Cup 2015 match at Adelaide when Ashwin got one wicket and Shah went wicket-less.

Earlier, this week Ashwin had wished good luck to the Pakistan leg-spinner.

"Good luck, may the force be with him. He is such a delight to watch," Ashwin had tweeted

On Shah achieving the record, Ashwin tweeted on Sunday: "Just a little late I guess, but very well done Yasir Shah double it up now."

Shah said Ashwin's best luck message was an inspiration.

"Yes, he had said good luck so I am thankful," Shah said of the Indian master's tweet.

"It's naturally motivating when a great bowler who is second fastest to 200 tweets a good luck message and it's really a great motivation for me."

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