MULTAN: Pakistan debutant Abrar Ahmed produced a brilliant spell against England on Friday, picking up seven wickets as the tourists were bowled out for 281 on the first day of the second Test in Multan.
The 24-year-old – nicknamed “Harry Potter” by friends because he wears glasses resembling the fictional boy wizard – produced his magic to finish with 7-114.
It was the second best debut by a Pakistani bowler after fast bowler Mohammad Zahid’s 7-66 against New Zealand in Rawalpindi in 1996.
Ben Duckett (63) and Ollie Pope (60) were the leading run scorers in England’s innings which ended at the stroke of tea, with captain Ben Stokes winning the toss and electing to bat.
A part of history 🙌
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 9, 2022
Memorable first day of Test cricket for Abrar Ahmed 🌟#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/pD3qBd10iz
England, on their first visit to Pakistan since 2005, won the first Test in Rawalpindi by 74 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Spinner Zahid Mehmood took the last three wickets to finish with 63-3.
Abrar Ahmed took England’s five wickets at lunch with a score of 180-5, becoming only the second player to take five wickets before lunch on the first day of debut.
West Indian Alf Valentine achieved this feat in his first Test against England in Manchester in 1950.
Stokes (30) and Will Jacks (31) put on a 61-run stand for the sixth wicket after lunch in an all-spin attack, before Ahmed stunned the England captain with his skill.
In the first session, Ahmed dismissed Zac Crowley (19), Duckett and Joe Root (eight) before sending Pope and Harry Brook (nine) on their way.
He is the 13th Pakistani bowler to take five or more wickets in an innings on debut.
Despite losing wickets regularly, England scored at a rapid pace, with Duckett hitting nine fours and a six, and Pope breaking the ropes to five.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam used spin at the start of the ninth over, and Ahmed bowled Crowley on just his fifth Test ball with a fast delivery.
He then trapped Duckt and Root before leg — both dismissed when Azam reviewed the on-field calls.
Ahmed made it 167-5 when Pope and Brooke mistimed aggressive shots and were caught.
Teams:
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafiq, Babar Azam (captain), Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Zahid Mahmood, Abrar Ahmed, and Muhammad Ali.
England: Zac Crowley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Will Jacks, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, Mark Wood, and James Anderson.
