LAHORE: Following Pakistan’s 22-run victory over Australia in the opening T20I of the series, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was full of praise for the team’s spin attack.
Addressing the media, Abrar reflected on his performance, the spin-friendly conditions, and the collective strength of Pakistan’s bowling unit. Abrar revived his trademark celebration during the match, something he had not displayed in recent international outings. Asked if fans would see more of it during the World Cup, he replied with a smile: “When my heart feels like it, I’ll do it. Against certain teams, I’ll definitely bring it back.” Echoing Adam Zampa’s earlier comments, Abrar agreed the wicket was on the drier side, which made variations more effective. “I saw how Zampa used his changes, and I adjusted accordingly. The pitch demanded simplicity—whether leg-spin, googly, or flight, I kept it to what the match required,” he explained.
He also noted that dew arrived late in the game, slightly affecting grip, but not enough to disrupt Pakistan’s spinners. Abrar highlighted Pakistan’s advantage of fielding four regular spinners, all of whom contributed wickets. “It’s our good fortune that we have so many quality spinners. Our spin attack has been strong from the start, and our fast bowlers are also excellent. We picked the team according to the pitch’s demand, and everyone delivered,” he said. Reflecting on Pakistan’s innings, Abrar admitted the team slowed down in the final 10 overs after a strong start. “In the dressing room, the captain had set a target of 170–175. I felt 168 was a winning score. Yes, we often collapse in the last 10 overs, but work is being done on that. Inshallah, we’ll improve,” he assured.
Abrar emphasized that spin remains Pakistan’s biggest strength heading into the World Cup. “Our strength right now is spin. The team will be announced keeping in mind the pitches for the World Cup, and we’ll play accordingly,” he said. e acknowledged differences between subcontinent pitches, noting that Sri Lanka generally offers more help to spinners compared to Pakistan, but stressed that adaptability will be key. Abrar explained his tactical changes during the match: “I bowled either very slow with flight or very fast stump-to-stump. Normal pace was going for singles, so I adjusted.”
He credited head coach Mike Hesson for his guidance in nets, saying: “He points out mistakes and strengths. He told me I’m the team’s main bowler, so I need to focus on what works best.”
