Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was admitted to a hospital in Multan after falling ill during Pakistan’s first Test against England. Having bowled 31 overs on the third day, Abrar woke up on the fourth morning suffering from a high fever and body aches, which forced him to sit out the day's play with the rest of his teammates.
According to a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Abrar underwent several medical tests, and further updates will be provided once the results are available.
Abrar struggled in the match as England deliberately targeted him. For most of the latter part of the day, he resorted to bowling from around the wicket to Joe Root and Harry Brook, aiming outside leg stump. Although this strategy helped lower his economy rate, Abrar was the only frontline bowler who went wicketless, finishing with figures of 35-0-174-0. This performance was in sharp contrast to his debut on the same ground in 2022, where he claimed 11 wickets in the match, including five before lunch on the first day, instantly establishing himself as Pakistan’s premier red-ball spinner.
However, injuries have frequently disrupted Abrar’s career. After making his professional debut for Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL at just 18, he spent several years on the sidelines with a recurring back injury. A nerve injury during a tour match ahead of Pakistan’s three-Test series in Australia caused him to miss those games, as well as the first Test against Bangladesh in August.
Although Pakistan had initially named Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood in the squad for the ongoing Test, both were released before the match started.