PAK vs AUS: Abrar Ahmed Ruled Out Of Australia vs Pakistan 2nd Test

Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed is not available for the second Test match of the AUS vs PAK Test series. The second match will start on December 26, 2023, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne. Abrar was ruled out of the first match due to a knee injury and will now also miss the second.

The Pakistan Cricket Board issued a medical bulletin regarding Abrar Ahmed’s fitness wherein they mentioned that Abrar’s condition has improved and he has started to bowl with 50 percent intensity.

Abrar Ahmed ruled out from the second Test match against Australia

The press release read, “Abrar Ahmed’s symptoms have significantly improved, and he has started bowling at 50 per cent intensity. Although he has worked really well since his diagnosis in Canberra, he still is not 100 per cent asymptomatic. Considering the nature of the injury and the workload required from a spinner in a Test match, Abrar is not yet ready and will therefore not be available for the second Test. He will undergo a preliminary fitness test on 25 December, which will determine his probable return-to-play date.”

Abrar Ahmed made his debut for Pakistan in December 2022 wherein he picked up a five-wicket haul in his debut Test series. Grabbing figures of 7/114 in the second Test match against England, Ahmed became the 13th Pakistani bowler to take a five-wicket haul on debut.

Since then Abrar Ahmed has played four more Tests whereas he has picked up 21 wickets. These matches were against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Abrar was also in contention to get picked for the white ball side, however, with the presence of Shadab Khan, he might have to wait for his chance.

Abrar along with Nouman Ali has a brilliant spin duo and can dismantle the opposition with his brilliant googlies. The Australian tour was Abrar’s first out of sub-continent series, however, he got ruled out of the contest due to a knee injury.

Ahead of the first Test match of the AUS vs PAK Test series, Abrar Ahmed complained of ‘discomfort’ in his right leg and also went off the field after bowling 27 overs on Day 3 of the warm-up match against Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.

The Pakistani team is going through a rough patch in the spin department and only has Nouman Ali as the other spinner in the squad. However, PCB can look at Usama Mir, who is in Australia to feature in the Big Bash League for the Brisbane Heat.

Though, he may not also be available for the second Test as he has been granted an NOC to play for his BBL team until December 28. The other option is Shadab Khan, however, his form in recent days has not been very appealing.

Pakistan squad for the last two Tests against Australia

Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.