Pakistan set to include Abrar in playing XI for second Bangladesh Test
ISLAMABAD: After an embarrassing loss to Bangladesh in the first Test, Pakistan on Wednesday decided to include mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the playing eleven for the second and final Test starting at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.
The Najmul Hossain-led Bangladesh recorded their first-ever Test victory against Pakistan when the visitors thrashed the hosts by ten wickets in the series opener in Rawalpindi. The dramatic last-day batting collapse caused a stunning defeat for Pakistan who before the series opener had won 12 out of 13 Tests against Bangladesh.
A source told Dawn that the Pakistan team management has decided in principle to include Abrar for the second Test. The 25-year-old Abrar has claimed 38 wickets in just six Tests after making his debut in the five-day format in December 2022 against England at Multan.
Surprisingly, Pakistan played the first Test against Bangladesh without any specialist spinner while opting for a four-fast bowler attack. The strategy failed on a pretty lifeless track of Rawalpindi as the visitors amassed 565.
On the other hand, Bangladesh spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan destroyed Pakistan batting on the final day sharing seven wickets between them to bundle out the hosts for a paltry 146. The visitors then achieved the 30-run victory target without loss.
The PCB through a press release also confirmed that Abrar and all-rounder Kamran Ghulam had joined the Test squad.
“Abrar Ahmed and Kamran Ghulam have joined the Pakistan Test squad ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh,” the release said.
“Both the players had been released from the Test squad before the start of the first Test and featured for Pakistan Shaheens in a four-day game against Bangladesh ‘A’ at the Islamabad Club [ground] from Aug 20 to 23,” it added.
It further said that fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was released from the squad at the conclusion of the first Test, had rejoined the squad on Tuesday evening.
According to sources, the home team management also wants to have all-rounder Aamer Jamal in the playing XI, subject to fitness.
The PCB statement said that Aamer, who had been released from the squad to work on his fitness at the NCA, had been recalled.
Meanwhile, both Pakistan and Bangladesh teams trained at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal (subject to fitness), Abrar Ahmed, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2024