"Will India play without either Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja?" - Kamran Akmal slams Pakistan management for Abrar Ahmed's exclusion from Bangladesh Tests
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal slammed the management for excluding frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed from the squad for the upcoming Bangladesh Test series. Pakistan will host Bangladesh for two Tests in Rawalpindi, starting August 21.
After initially being 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.
Speaking to Cricket Pakistan on Abrar Ahmed's exclusion, Akmal questioned if Australia or India would play a Test without Nathan Lyon or Ravichandran Ashwin/Ravindra Jadeja.
"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.
Since debuting for Pakistan in 2022, Abrar has played six red-ball games and picked up an impressive 38 wickets at an average of 31.07 with two 5-wicket hauls and a 10-wicket match haul.
His absence means Pakistan will play a home Test without a frontline spinner for only the second time since 1995.
"Due to personal likes and dislikes, that boy has been ruined" - Kamran Akmal
Kamran Akmal further stated that Abrar Ahmed was excluded due to personal preferences within the Pakistan management.
The 25-year-old missed Pakistan's last Test assignment - the tour of Australia late last year due to injury.
"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.
Uncapped batter Kamran Ghulam also joined Abrar Ahmed to be released from the squad to play for the Pakistan Shaheens in the four-day outing against Bangladesh A.
Akmal aside, several former cricketers reserved criticism towards Pakistan's move to play the upcoming first Test against Bangladesh without a specialist spinner on home soil.
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.