Explained: Why wouldn’t Abrar Ahmed bat in second innings in Multan?

Spinner Abrar Ahmed's participation is in doubt for Day 5 of the first Test between Pakistan and England in Multan. 

He complained of high fever along with body aches on the morning of Day 4, after which he was taken to a hospital in Multan and was treated there. He didn’t take the field for Pakistan and wouldn’t have been able to bat if his batting had come today. The status of his participation on Day 5 remains unclear. 

A statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also informed that many medical tests have been conducted on Abrar, and reports are awaited.  

Abrar bowled 35 overs in England’s first innings until the end of third day, and returned wicketless. The England batters dealt him with a lot of ease, as he kept bowling defensive lines outside the leg stump from around the wicket to the right-handers. He leaked runs at almost five runs/over and gave away 174 runs in his 35 overs. He remained the only specialist bowler to return empty-handed in the first innings. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan are in a dire state after allowing England to score 823/7, after which they declared their first innings. The start to their second innings, where they trailed by 267 runs, was disastrous as Abdullah Shafique was clean bowled on the first delivery of the innings. Wickets kept falling even after that, and by the 19th over, Pakistan were reduced to 59/5 and later to 82/6 at the end of the day’s play, with an embarrassing innings defeat looming large over them on Day 5. 

Abrar, who is unlikely to bat tomorrow for his team based on the current reports, has had a history of injuries, with the recent one not allowing him to take part in the first Test against Bangladesh in the last home series. He made his Test debut against England in 2022, where he took 11 wickets and became the frontline red-ball spinner for Pakistan. 

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