Pakistan will face Bangladesh in the upcoming two-match Test series. The first match will be played in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. The two Tests against Bangladesh will be Jason Gillespie’s first assignment as Pakistan’s Test coach. On Monday, Pakistan announced its starting eleven for the first Test and has left out its only spinner, Abrar Ahmed. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal criticised the Pakistan management for fielding no spinner.
Apart from Abrar, batsman Kamran Ghulam was also benched as the selection committee has named him in the Pakistan Shaheens squad to face Bangladesh A on August 30.
The absence of Abrar means that Pakistan will go with a complete pace attack in the first Test. The only spin options left for Pakistan in their XI are all-rounders Salman Ali Agha and Saud Shakeel.
Akmal criticised the selection committee for not including a spinner in the team. He even cited India as an example and stated that without Ravindra Jadeja or Ravichandran Ashwin, they would never progress in a Test match.
“With Jason Gillespie (Pakistan’s Test head coach), we talk about the Australian mindset. But can Australia play without Nathan Lyon? Will India play without Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja? No, they won’t. They have Abrar but you have destroyed his confidence so much,” Akmal told Cricket Pakistan.
“Due to personal likes and dislikes, this boy (Abrar) was ruined. His fitness and off-field issues came to the fore and that is why you spoiled this boy and harmed Pakistan,” he added.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali are the top four bowlers for Pakistan, who will face Bangladesh in the first Test match. Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha will be the spin bowlers for the hosts.
Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub will open for Pakistan, while captain Shan Masood and Babar Azam will play in the midfield.
(With ANI inputs)
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