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Abrar Ahmed, a legspinner, has been called up to the Pakistani squad for the second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. Aamer Jamal, who the PCB had said was out of the series, will also join the Pakistan team amid a plethora of other call-ups, with his participation “subject to fitness clearance”. Along with Shaheen Shah Afridi, who returned to the team after the first Test after giving birth to his son, Shan Masood’s team also includes top-order batsman Kamran Ghulam.
Ghulam and Abrar were dropped from the team when Pakistan controversially opted not to use a spinner in the opening Test. Bangladesh showed the power of spin even on a surface that appeared to be dead, when Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan took seven of Pakistan’s nine wickets on the last day to bundle them out and secure a historic triumph. The Pakistan team management has mainly stayed with the choice. The choice was described as “possibly a mistake” by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, although assistant coach Azhar Mahmood and Masood insisted it was made after considering the circumstances.
But given since the circumstances are the same, Abar’s involvement appears much more likely. He took four wickets in the A match against Bangladesh A, and he has no real competition right now to be Pakistan’s top red-ball spinner. Pakistan has voiced concerns about the possibility that having a spinner extends their tail or increases the effort required for a three-pronged pace attack.
After spending several years on the periphery of the Pakistan red-ball team, Ghulam recently hit an undefeated 100 with Pakistan A in Darwin and 20* and 34 in the two A matches against Bangladesh in Islamabad. Considering the struggles of Pakistan’s top order, he becomes a viable possibility.
Even though Jamal has been summoned back, and his contribution to keeping the other team balanced is vital, his selection is regarded as highly improbable. It’s not likely that Pakistan will rush him back from an injury they had believed would keep him out of the series.
The second Test starts on August 30, with Bangladesh eyeing a first series win against Pakistan.