Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal slammed the management for leaving their frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed from the
squad for the upcoming Bangladesh Test series. However, Pakistan will host Bangladesh for two Tests in Rawalpindi, starting August 21 as well. However, despite being initially selected, Abrar was released days before the start of the first Test to join the Shaheen squad. It will mean Pakistan will play the first Bangladesh Test without a specialist spinner on their home turf as well.

Speaking to Cricket Pakistan on Abrar Ahmed’s exclusion, Akmal questioned if Australia or India would play their Test match without their key players Nathan Lyon or Ravichandran Ashwin/Ravindra Jadeja as well.

“With Jason Gillespie (Pakistan’s Test head coach), we are talking about the Australian mindset. But can Australia play without Nathan Lyon? Will India play without Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja? No, they won’t. You have Abrar, but you have shut down his confidence so much,” said Akmal.

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Since debuting for Pakistan in 2022, Abrar Ahmed has played six red-ball matches so far and picked up 38 wickets at an average of 31.07
with two 5-wicket hauls and a 10-wicket match haul as well. His absence means Pakistan will play a Test match at home without a frontline
spinner for only the second time since 1995 as well. And, Kamran Akmal further shared that Abrar Ahmed was excluded due to personal preferences within the Pakistan management as well.

“Due to personal likes and dislikes, that boy (Abrar) has been ruined. His fitness and off-the-field issues were highlighted, and because of that, you’ve spoiled that boy and harmed Pakistan,” said Akmal.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh Test series:

Shan Masood (C), Saud Shakeel (VC), Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira,
Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK), and Shaheen Shah Afridi.