Perth, Dec 11 – Pakistan confirmed that they will miss the services of a key leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed in the first Test against Australia here, beginning December 14.
Ahmed has been ruled out of the opening Test after the leg-spinner left the field of play due to severe pain in his right leg around his knee during the first-class game against Prime Minister’s XI.
Pakistan have called up Sajid Khan as a backup to bolster their spin attack while the medical team continues to assess Abrar’s injury.
Abrar will undergo an intervention in Perth on Monday. Following that, conservative rehabilitation under the supervision of the team’s medical staff, will continue as he starts on his road to recovery, an ICC report said.
Abrar has not been ruled out of the series yet. Pakistan will take a call on his involvement ahead of the second Test that is scheduled to start on Boxing Day in Melbourne.
In his nascent Test career, the leg-spinner has already garnered the reputation of being a wicket-taker. The first Test would have proven to be his first challenge outside Asia. In his six matches so far, he has picked 38 wickets with two five-wicket hauls to his name.
His backup Sajid has a similar experience in his seven Tests for Pakistan. The right-arm off-spinner has gathered 22 wickets and his only overseas experience came when he toured Zimbabwe where he made his debut.
The other spin option for Pakistan in the squad is left-arm off-spinner Noman Ali who has an experience of 15 Tests and has taken 47 wickets along with over a hundred First Class games to boast of.
