Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed is currently in a hospital in Multan after falling ill during the ongoing Test match against England. The 25-year-old, who bowled 31 overs on the third day of the game, complained of a high fever and body aches on the morning of day four and could not take the field with his teammates.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a statement saying that Abrar had undergone several tests, and further updates on his health will be provided once the results are received.
Difficult Day for Abrar
Abrar had a tough day with the ball in the third inning of the match. England’s batters targeted him, especially Joe Root and Harry Brook, who attacked his bowling. For much of the day, Abrar was forced to bowl outside the leg stump from around the wicket, struggling to make an impact. Although this strategy slowed his economy rate, he was the only frontline bowler to go wicketless in the innings. Abrar’s final figures for the day were 35 overs, no wickets, and 174 runs conceded.
This performance was a sharp contrast to his debut Test against England on the same ground in 2022, when Abrar made an explosive start to his career, taking 11 wickets in the match, including five in a remarkable session on the first day.
Injury Troubles Continue for Abrar
Abrar has been plagued by injury problems throughout his career. He made his professional debut for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at just 18 years old, but his career has been interrupted by recurring injuries. He has been sidelined for extended periods due to a back injury, and more recently, he suffered a nerve injury during a tour game in Australia, which forced him to miss the entire tour and the first Test against Bangladesh in August.
Pakistan’s Squad Changes
Ahead of the current Test, Pakistan had named spinners Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood in the squad but released them before the match started. With Abrar’s illness, the team may face challenges in managing their bowling attack for the remainder of the Test.
The PCB will be closely monitoring Abrar’s recovery and will provide more updates as soon as more information is available.