Watch: Abrar Ahmed is one of two Pakistan bowlers who have been given a maiden Test call-up for the series against England that begins in the first week of December.
Mohammad Ali, a right-arm quick, has been selected along with Abrar for the home series, being rewarded for their consistent run in the 2022/23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. While Ali is the third-highest wicket-taker in the edition, with 24 scalps, Abrar is miles ahead, picking up 43 wickets in 12 innings with five five-wicket hauls.
The leg-spinner from Sindh has gone wicketless only twice in this tournament, picking up three or more wickets in an innings nine times. He started off the season with a match-haul of 11 wickets, ending with 5-94 and 6-100 against Southern Punjab, before grabbing 4-130 and 5-29 against Khyber.
Abrar picked up his fourth five-wicket haul against Balochistan before grabbing six wickets in the first innings against Southern Punjab. The 24-year-old, who made his first-class debut in 2021, was also picked in the T20I squad for the seven-match series against England earlier this year but did not play a single game. Overall, he has 76 wickets from 13 first-class games, including seven five-fors, three four-wicket hauls along with two ten-wicket match figures.
In the 2022/23 Quaid-e-Azam trophy, he has been troubling batters with his googlies whilst also causing havoc with the ones that keep straight. A highlight reel of his campaign from this edition was shared by Pakistan Cricket, displaying his versatility as a bowler.
Watch Abrar’s wickets in the 2022/23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy here:
☄️ 43 wickets including five five-wicket hauls in this #QeAT season
Abrar Ahmed has been rewarded for his strong first-class performance with a maiden Test call-up 👏#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/13EfPHD1ph
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 21, 2022