Star Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed will miss the first Test against Bangladesh, which is scheduled to take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from August 21 onwards. The 25-year-old spinner, who has 38 wickets to his name in six red-ball matches played so far, was released from the Pakistan Test squad on Saturday (August 17).
According to a statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board, Abrar has been released, and he will now play for the Pakistan Shaheens in the second four-day match against Bangladesh A, which starts on Tuesday (August 20).
The decision to release Abrar was taken after PCB selectors opted to go with an all-pace attack in the series opener.
“Wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed has been released from the Pakistan Test side, and he will now represent the Pakistan Shaheens in the second four-day match against Bangladesh ‘A’, which will start at the Islamabad Club on Tuesday, 20 August,” PCB said.
“The decision has been made after the selectors have opted to go with an all-pace attack in the first ICC World Test Championship match against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, 21 August. Instead of benching him for the Test, the selectors named him in the Shaheens squad so that he can gain some match practice ahead of the second Test, which will start in Karachi on 30 August,” the release added.
In addition to Abrar, uncapped top-order batter Kamran Ghulam has also been released from the Test squad. The 28-year-old will lead Pakistan A in the second four-day match in place of Saud Shakeel.
Saud has rejoined Pakistan’s Test side along with former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, and Saim Ayub after playing in the first four-day match between Pakistan A and Bangladesh A.
“Uncapped top-order batter Kamran Ghulam is the other player to be released from the Pakistan Test side and has been retained in the Pakistan Shaheens side for the second four-day match. He has also been appointed as the captain.”
“This means the Pakistan Test has been trimmed to 15 players but will be back to its original 17-player strength after the conclusion of the second four-day match when Abrar and Kamran will rejoin the side for the Karachi visit,” the release noted.
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