Pakistan's Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed couldn't have asked more from his Test debut as he showed the world what he is capable of on Sunday (December 11). On Day 3 of the second Test against England in Multan, Abrar went on to script history as he emulated the record of most wickets by a Pakistan bowler on Test debut. The 24-year-old leg-spinner clinched the milestone to equal former Pakistan's pacer Mohammad Zahid’s record.
Back in 1996, Zahid snared 11 wickets during a Test against New Zealand in Rawalpindi. Zahid picked seven wickets in the first innings and then followed it up with a four-wicket haul as Pakistan went on to win the match by an innings and 13 runs.
Meanwhile, the star spinner Abrar did the same as he notched up seven wickets on Day 1 of the Test against England and then extended it by taking four more in the second innings. The young gun was on the verge of taking all 10 wickets in the first innings but then Pakistan's another spinner Zahid Mahmood took the remainder of the last three wickets. Later, Abrar returned with a bowling figure of 29-3-120-4 as Pakistan restricted England to just 275 in 64.5 overs in the second innings. Abrar removed Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Ollie Robinson and Will Jacks.
Apart from Zahid Mohammad and Abrar Ahmed, no other Pakistan bowler has picked up more than eight wickets on debut. On Day 2 of the Test, Abrar also broke Abdur Rehman’s 15-year-old record of most wickets by a Pakistan spinner on debut.
The overall record of most wickets by a bowler on debut is held by India’s Narendra Hirwani (1988) and Australia’s Robert Massie (1972). Both of them picked up 16 wickets.
Abrar came into the second Test after picking up 76 wickets in his first 14 first-class matches for Sindh. He has also been a part of Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
As far as match is concerned, Pakistan lost the key wicket of half centurion Imam-ul-Haq late on the third day to give England renewed hope. Pakistan finished the day on 198/4 and need a further 157 to deny England a second successive victory in the three-match series.
England, which held a 79-run first innings lead, had set up another imposing target of 355 runs on a deteriorating Multan Cricket Stadium wicket after it was bowled out for 275 in its second innings.