Pakistan v England: Abrar Ahmed says he's 'not a magician'

Abrar Ahmed

The 24-year-old claimed 7-114 on the first day of the second Test in Multan to help turn away tourists for 281.

After taking the first seven wickets, he was well on his way to becoming the first bowler in Test history to win 10 in one inning on his debut.

< p class="" data-reactid=".pfclu5wtbu.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-4">"I can't express in words how happy I feel," Abrar said.

< p class="" data-reactid=".pfclu5wtbu.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-5">"I will not forget today. It's great to have achieved what I had planned.

"I'm not a magician .I did my job, what I was commissioned to do, and for that I am very happy."

On a lot-of-turn surface tender, Abrar recorded the best numbers of a spinner in its test debut for 14 years.

His scalps included Joe Root, an lbw trapper for eight years, and England captain Ben Stokes, who was knocked down by a stunning delivery that launched the outside leg stump and hit in the middle and outside.

"Before the game, I said in an interview that Joe Root and Ben Stokes would be challenges, so it's great to have the wickets of both," Abrar said.

"Ben Stokes was my favorite wicket. He's my favorite player!"

Nominally a leg spinner, Abrar spins the ball in the two senses of an unconventional movement of his fingers.The variation he used to bowl with Stokes and, earlier, with Zak Crawley, is often referred to as a "carrom ball".

The top wicket-taker in Pakistani national cricket this season, he was controversially left out of the first Test at Rawalpindi, which England won by 74 points.

"I was surprised he didn't get the opportunity to participate in the first Test," former Pakistani fast bowler Waqar Younis told Test Match Special.

"What a dream start. He has proven himself to be something very unique and can survive in Test cricket."

Opener Ben Duckett was England's top scorer with 63 from 49 before becoming Abrar's second victim.

"We tried to pressure him and he had a good day," Duckett said.

"It will be similar in the second run. We are not going to try to flatter him. Everyone will have their own strategies. I'm sure in the second run we will go even stronger."

Pakistan went to 107 -2 at the end, 174 behind, with captain Babar Azam undefeated on 61.

"Our 281 is pretty good, maybe a little under par,” Duckett said. “If we get a few wickets in the morning and keep them at a similar or lower score, it will definitely be difficult to score on this ground.

< p class=" " data-reactid=".pfclu5wtbu.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-21">"We just have to hang in there, try to restrict them as much as possible and hope the wickets come in a bunch. I think this will be another thrilling test."

Victory will give England, holding a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, their first Test series victory against Pakistan in outside the UK in 22 years.

Pakistan v England: Abrar Ahmed says he's 'not a magician'
Abrar Ahmed

The 24-year-old claimed 7-114 on the first day of the second Test in Multan to help turn away tourists for 281.

After taking the first seven wickets, he was well on his way to becoming the first bowler in Test history to win 10 in one inning on his debut.

< p class="" data-reactid=".pfclu5wtbu.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-4">"I can't express in words how happy I feel," Abrar said.

< p class="" data-reactid=".pfclu5wtbu.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-5">"I will not forget today. It's great to have achieved what I had planned.

"I'm not a magician .I did my job, what I was commissioned to do, and for that I am very happy."

On a lot-of-turn surface tender, Abrar recorded the best numbers of a spinner in its test debut for 14 years.

His scalps included Joe Root, an lbw trapper for eight years, and England captain Ben Stokes, who was knocked down by a stunning delivery that launched the outside leg stump and hit in the middle and outside.

"Before the game, I said in an interview that Joe Root and Ben Stokes would be challenges, so it's great to have the wickets of both," Abrar said.

"Ben Stokes was my favorite wicket. He's my favorite player!"

Nominally a leg spinner, Abrar spins the ball in the two senses of an unconventional movement of his fingers.The variation he used to bowl with Stokes and, earlier, with Zak Crawley, is often referred to as a "carrom ball".

The top wicket-taker in Pakistani national cricket this season, he was controversially left out of the first Test at Rawalpindi, which England won by 74 points.

"I was surprised he didn't get the opportunity to participate in the first Test," former Pakistani fast bowler Waqar Younis told Test Match Special.

"What a dream start. He has proven himself to be something very unique and can survive in Test cricket."

Opener Ben Duckett was England's top scorer with 63 from 49 before becoming Abrar's second victim.

"We tried to pressure him and he had a good day," Duckett said.

"It will be similar in the second run. We are not going to try to flatter him. Everyone will have their own strategies. I'm sure in the second run we will go even stronger."

Pakistan went to 107 -2 at the end, 174 behind, with captain Babar Azam undefeated on 61.

"Our 281 is pretty good, maybe a little under par,” Duckett said. “If we get a few wickets in the morning and keep them at a similar or lower score, it will definitely be difficult to score on this ground.

< p class=" " data-reactid=".pfclu5wtbu.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-21">"We just have to hang in there, try to restrict them as much as possible and hope the wickets come in a bunch. I think this will be another thrilling test."

Victory will give England, holding a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, their first Test series victory against Pakistan in outside the UK in 22 years.

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