Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed inches closer to 10-wicket haul

Picture source - twitter @ICC

Pakistan’s new spin bowling sensation inches closer to a 10-wicket haul and has troubled the English batting lineup with a variety of deliveries on his debut in Multan.

Only three bowlers in the history of test cricket have taken a 10-wicket haul in an innings before. The list includes JC Laker, Anil Kumble, and Ajaz Patel.

Karachi-born leg spinner becomes the 13th Pakistan bowler to take a five-wicket haul on debut in a test match.

Abrar Ahmed also became the first bowler in Pakistani history to take five wickets in the first session of a Test debut.

The spinner made his first-class debut in 2020 while representing Sindh in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match against Southern Punjab.

He has 76 wickets in 26 first-class innings with a current average of 25.56 and best match stats of 11-63.

Abrar won his first call-up to the Test squad before this series as a result of his outstanding performance in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022–2023.

The 24-year-old right-arm spinner took home the trophy for best bowler of the tournament with 43 wickets in seven games and an average of 21.95.

Earlier, England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bat first in the second test match of the series played in Multan.

Pakistan made three changes on Friday due to additional injuries, which are already without pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, who will miss the series after having appendicitis surgery.

Along with top-order batsman Azhar Ali, fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf are out.

They have been replaced by spinner Abrar Ahmed, and all-rounders Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf.