Abrar Ahmed determined to improve bowling amidst fierce competition

Pakistan's emerging spinner, Abrar Ahmed, has reiterated his commitment to refining his bowling skills, acknowledging the intense competition among spinners within the national squad. 

On Thursday, at a media conference held at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi, Abrar emphasized his dedication to personal improvement and hard work while recognizing that the management and captain make the final team selections.

“My role is to focus on improving my bowling and working hard daily. With many spinners being groomed, I’ve had experience playing on green pitches in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy," Abrar said.

My objective is to consistently bowl on line and length, regardless of the wicket,” he added.

Ahmed, who has quickly risen through the ranks with his consistent domestic cricket performances, credited senior players such as Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz for their mentorship and the valuable lessons they imparted. 

“Even when I’m not playing, I learn by observing them and the players. My goal is to become the team’s main spinner, and I’ll strive to achieve it through hard work,” he said.

When questioned about the team's preparation for upcoming matches, Ahmed responded positively, highlighting the strong team spirit and the rigorous training regimen. 

“Our training is going well, and we have a strong team,” he concluded.

It is worth noting that Pakistan and Bangladesh are set to clash in a two-match Test series on home soil. This series is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. 

The first Test is scheduled to be held in Rawalpindi from August 21-25, followed by the second Test in Karachi from August 30 to September 3.

Pakistan Test squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Bangladesh Test squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumar Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed