Pakistan’s mystery leg-spin bowler Abrar Ahmed has been making headlines for his magical bowling against England in his first international tournament. Playing on the first day in the second Test match of Pakistan vs England on Friday, Abrar Ahmed took 7 for 114 in 22 overs.
He dismissed batsmen like Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes and Will Jack. Pakistan bundled out England for 281 as Zahid Mahmood took the last three wickets. For England, Duckett and Pope played knocks of 63 and 60 respectively, but it was debutant Abrar who stole all the limelight with his sensational bowling performance.
Ahmed was happy with his effort.
“People do call me Harry Potter, but I am not a magician,” he said.
“I have done what is my job, and that is taking wickets.”
The moment of the match for him was the scalp of England skipper Ben Stokes.
“My teammates were telling me that usually it’s the first wicket that you cherish, but for me, Stokes’s wicket was the best.”
Stokes (30) and Will Jacks (31) defied the assault after lunch for a 61-run sixth-wicket stand.
Ben Duckett (63) and Pope (60) were the main scorers in an England innings that finished at the stroke of tea, after Stokes won the toss and decided to bat.
Spinner Zahid Mahmood claimed the last three wickets to finish with 3-63.
Ahmed’s figures were the second-best on debut by a Pakistan bowler — behind pacer Mohammad Zahid’s 7-66 against New Zealand in Rawalpindi in 1996.
He is the 13th Pakistan bowler to take five or more wickets in an innings on debut.
Duckett said he hoped early wickets on Saturday would bring England back into the game.
“Ahmed bowled really well… it’s definitely spinning,” he said.
“Hopefully we can take wickets in clusters tomorrow.”
Bowling Stats
| FORMAT | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
| FC | 14 | 26 | 3611 | 1943 | 76 | 14763 | 23316 | 25.56 | 3.22 | 47.5 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| List A | 12 | 11 | 576 | 437 | 17 | 45717 | 45717 | 25.7 | 4.55 | 33.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 | 17 | 17 | 378 | 481 | 19 | 41699 | 41699 | 25.31 | 7.63 | 19.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Batting & Fielding Stats
| FORMAT | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
| FC | 14 | 17 | 5 | 126 | 26 | 10.5 | 274 | 45.98 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| List A | 12 | 6 | 2 | 24 | 8* | 6 | 23 | 104.34 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| T20 | 17 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | 0 |
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