by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan:
As Pakistan braces itself for a high-stakes clash with the Australian team at the Optus Stadium on December 14th for the inaugural Test match, an unexpected blow has rattled the squad’s morale well before the series kickoff. Despite being a recent addition to the team, Abrar Ahmed has emerged as Pakistan’s most dependable bowling option in the longest format of the game.
However, during a practice match against Prime Minister’s XI, the mystery spinner experienced discomfort in his right leg around the knee on the third day of the game. Fearing the worst, Ahmed was promptly rushed to the hospital for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, a move that received the nod from the medical team.
The results of the scans delivered a somber verdict for the team gearing up for the crucial series. While his absence from the first Test is certain, a glimmer of hope remains for the Boxing Day Test, with the mystery spinner potentially rejoining the tour after further assessment.
In the wake of this setback, Chief Selector Wahab Riaz has given the green light to the inclusion of off-spinner Sajid Khan, who will soon be making his way down under to fill the void left by Ahmed.
