Pakistan have temporarily released leg-spinner Yasir Shah from the Test squad for the Sri Lanka series to work with Mushtaq Ahmed at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

The 33-year-old who was dropped for the for the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi will rejoin the squad in Karachi on 16 December, ahead of the second Test.

In the interim, he will work in Lahore with the legendary leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed who was appointed spin-bowling consultant last week. According to Ahmed’s contract, he will work 120 days in a year at the NCA with the U16, U19 and other domestic bowlers. As and when required, he will work with the national team.

Shah struggled with the ball during the two-Test series against Australia last month. He conceded 205 runs and picked up four wickets in the first Test at Brisbane. It only got worse at Adelaide during the day-night Test where he ended up leaking 197 runs without taking a wicket.

His fighting century at Adelaide with the bat in the first innings was the only solace for the veteran spinner whose bowling average Down Under plummeted to 89.50 in five Tests, against a career average of 30.11.