Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah has become the quickest bowler to take 200 Test wickets, during the third Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi.

Heading into the final Test of the series, Shah needed just five more scalps to break the record — which he did with ease during the fourth day’s play by picking up the wicket of William Somerville (4) in the second innings.

Shah broke 82-year-old record of Australia’s Clarrie Grimmett — who took his 200th wicket in his 36th Test against South Africa in 1936 — in only his 33rd Test match.

Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ehsan Mani also congratulated Shah on breaking the world record.

In a message Mani praised Shah’s outstanding contribution to Pakistan cricket.

"It is indeed a proud moment for PCB and cricket fans across the country. Yasir has been a phenomenal bowler for Pakistan ever since his Test debut four years ago. I hope and pray for his continued success, he is a world-class performer and a real match-winner who has a fantastic attitude towards the game," he said.

Since taking seven wickets on debut against Australia in 2014, Yasir has been a key figure in Pakistan's Test team.

He took 12 wickets in that 2-0 series win over Australia in United Arab Emirates in 2014 and followed that with 15 against New Zealand in a 1-1 draw the same year.

That was followed by 24 wickets against Sri Lanka in 2015 and ten wickets in a match to beat England at Lord's a year later. He took 21 and 25 wickets respectively in series wins over the West Indies.

Yasir reached 100 wickets in 17 Tests, second only to Englishman George Lohmann who reached the target in 16 matches during a Test in Johannesburg in 1896.

Yasir's figures in Dubai — during the second Test — were the second best match return ever for Pakistan in Test cricket, bettered only by former captain and current Prime Minister Imran Khan who took 14-116 against Sri Lanka in Lahore in 1982.