In a setback for the Pakistan cricket team, the promising mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand due to fitness concerns. The 24-year-old spinner, known for his enigmatic deliveries, is set to return home to undergo rehabilitation at Lahore’s National Cricket Academy (NCA).
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a statement confirming Abrar Ahmed’s absence, citing fitness issues as the reason for his exclusion from the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The decision has compelled the team management to initiate a swift adjustment to the squad.
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, who was initially released from the Test squad, has been summoned to join the T20I squad. Nawaz will bolster the bowling department alongside Zaman Khan, Haris Rauf, and Usama Mir, who are already in training for the upcoming series. All four players, including Nawaz, are scheduled to depart from Australia for Auckland on January 5, where they will join the rest of the T20I squad.
The first T20I clash between Pakistan and New Zealand is slated for January 12 in Auckland. The absence of Abrar Ahmed will be keenly felt, as the mystery spinner had become a notable presence in the team’s bowling arsenal.
Abrar Ahmed key in Pakistan Cricket Team
Abrar Ahmed’s exclusion from the T20I series follows his absence from all three Tests against Australia. He raised concerns about discomfort in his right leg during a four-day practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI, ultimately leading to his withdrawal from the Test matches.
In response to Abrar’s unavailability, off-spinner Sajid Khan was called up as his replacement in the Pakistan Cricket team. However, Sajid was not part of the playing XI in the first two Tests. His chance to make an impact will come in the final Test, where he will replace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been rested.
The Pakistan squad for the T20I series includes key players such as Shaheen Afridi (c), Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Haseebullah Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Aamer Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, and Zaman Khan.
As Pakistan gears up for the T20I series against New Zealand, the absence of Abrar Ahmed poses a challenge for the team’s bowling strategy. The upcoming matches in Auckland, Hamilton, Dunedin, and Christchurch on January 14, 17, 19, and 21, respectively, will test the adaptability and resilience of the Pakistani side against a formidable New Zealand outfit.
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