KARACHI, Dec 26: Pakistan’s former Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir has paid rich tributes to Aussie great Shane Warne for becoming the first bowler ever to complete 700 Test wickets.

Warne on Tuesday bagged his 700th wicket when he clean bowled Andrew Strauss in the 4th Ashes Test match at Melbourne.

In an exclusive interview to the Voice of America, Abdul Qadir said, “Shane Warne is the greatest bowler in cricket history and I don’t have the words to describe his class and success. He has proved to be a remarkably talented and incredibly effective bowler against all oppositions. I feel honoured in saying that Warne learnt some of the finer points of leg-break bowling from me.”

“Shane Warne always respected me and those who respect their seniors are destined to achieve the greatest of landmarks.”

Recalling his meeting with the Aussie spinning wizard when he first toured Pakistan in 1988, Qadir said: “Warne conveyed to me that he was interested in learning the finer points of leg-spin and I agreed to pass them on with pleasure. I invited him for dinner at my residence where Warne told me that he had been watching videos of my bowling and had learnt quite a few things from them. Later, I taught him how to effectively bowl the ‘Googly’ and the ‘Flipper”, narrated Qadir.

“Cricket is blessed that a fine bowler like Shane Warne played the game and he should be remembered as the greatest leg-spinning maestro of all times,” concluded Qadir.—Agencies