Cricketer Yasir Shah, 3 others receive civil awards

PESHAWAR: Governor Shah Farman on behalf of President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi conferred four civil awards on citizens on the occasion of Pakistan Day at a ceremony here on Saturday.

Cricketer Yasir Shah got Sitara-i-Imtiaz in acknowledgement of his extraordinary performance in the field of cricket.

Yasir Shah was born in Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 1986.

He is the joint-second bowler to take the fastest 100 wickets. He is also the fastest to pick up 200 wickets.

Yasir Shah is a specialist leg-break bowler. He is known for his leg spinners, flippers and googlies. He was mentioned by Shane Warne as one of the best spinners in modern cricket.

He made his Test match debut for Pakistan against Australia in the UAE on October 22, 2014. During Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka, Yasir Shah became the fastest Pakistani bowler to take 50 Test wickets.

In December 2018, during Pakistan’s series against New Zealand, he became the first bowler to take the fastest 200 wickets in Tests, breaking an 82-year old record.

The Governor conferred Tamgha-i-Imtiaz on Prof Dr Iftikhar Ahmad in the field of education, Khwaja Safar Ali in the field of metalwork and Akhtar Gul, a deputy director, in the field of public service in recognition of their illustrious achievements in their respective disciplines. Khwaja Safar Ali, operating from a shop in Qissa Khwani bazaar, is known for creating exquisite pieces of bronze work.

The members of the provincial cabinet, parliamentarians from the province including the merged tribal districts, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Saleem Khan, Secretary Administration Imtiaz Ayub, Secretary Information Mukhtiar Ahmad, Secretary Housing Masood Ahmad, Secretary Public Health Engineering Bahramand Khan and other administrative secretaries, senior civil and military officials, and relatives and well-wisher of the recipients of the awards attended the ceremony.

Governor Shah Farman congratulated the recipients of the awards and also paid tributes to the martyrs of the Pakistan Movement.