Not fluent in English or Arabic, Yasir had a tough time to convince the officer that he was an international sportsperson himself and the resemblance to the iconic football star was purely coincidental.
As the leg spinner shattered yet another landmark becoming the quickest bowler in the history of Test cricket to have 200 dismissals, the popularity of Yasir in cricket-crazy Pakistan could well eclipse the cult following of the football superstar.
Yasir is of Pakhtun origin (commonly known as Pathans) hailing from a small but picturesque town of Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province that shares its borders with Afghanistan.
The presence of frontline spinners Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal meant Yasir could not force himself into the national team and had to go back to the domestic circuit to prove his mettle.
In 2014, Saeed Ajmal was banned by the International Cricket Council for a suspect bowling action on the eve of their twin series against Australia and New Zealand in the UAE.
Unfazed against a star-studded line-up which featured the likes of David Warner, Steve Smith and Michael Clarke, Yasir made an immediate impression bagging seven wickets in his maiden Test match.
- PM Khan congratulates Yasir Shah on 'stellar' record-breaking performanceDAWN.com
- PM Imran Khan congratulates Yasir Shah over stellar performanceThe News International
- PM congratulates Yasir Shah on creating history in Test cricketDaily Times
- PM congratulates Yasir Shah on breaking 82-year-old recordGeo News
- Yasir, Williamson share honours as Test heads for pulsating finishDAWN.com
- My goal is to be remembered as one of the best spinners: Yasir ShahCricket Country News
- World record brings Yasir into spinners' hall of fameAajNews
- PM all praise for Yasir Shah upon becoming fastest to reach 200 Test wicketsPakistan Today
- Yasir breaks record but NZ in control after Williamson tonThe News International
