In a rather unfortunate turn of events, Pakistan’s leg spinner, Abrar Ahmed, has found himself hospitalized, having fallen gravely ill amidst the unfolding drama of the first Test match against England at the historic Multan Cricket Stadium. On a day marked by intense competition, Abrar, who valiantly bowled a taxing 34 overs on Day 3, was notably absent from the field on Day 4 due to complaints of a high fever and debilitating body aches.
The latest reports from ESPNCricinfo indicate that the young wrist spinner was swiftly transported to a medical facility for thorough examination, ultimately leading to his hospitalization. It’s worth mentioning that his performance with the ball was less than stellar; subjected to a merciless assault by the England batsmen, he conceded a staggering 174 runs off his 35 overs, culminating in an economy rate that perched uncomfortably at five.
As the narrative of this match spirals onwards, Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood, cast a wide net, employing seven bowlers during the first innings in a desperate bid to stem the onslaught from the English squad. However, England’s dominance was palpable, with their audacious declaration at 823/7 — a breathtaking feat, marking the fourth-highest score in Test history, following Pakistan’s own first innings tally of 556 runs.
The stars of the day for England were undeniably Harry Brook, who crafted a magnificent 317, ushering himself into an elite club as only the sixth Englishman to notch a triple century; his innings sparkled with 29 boundaries and three towering sixes. Meanwhile, the stalwart Joe Root joined the fray with a breathtaking 262, marking his highest Test score while securing his sixth double century in the process.
As Pakistan confronts the grim reality of yet another potential home Test defeat, the situation becomes dire. After an imposing first innings lead of 257 runs, the English bowlers wreaked havoc in the second innings, leaving Pakistan teetering on the precipice of disaster at stumps on Day 4, with a fragile score of 152/6, still trailing by 115 runs.
The batting lineup faltered under the pressure; Abdullah Shafique went without a score, Saim Ayub managed a mere 25, Shan Masood could only muster 11 runs, and the captain Babar Azam was dismissed for just 5. Saud Shakeel offered a brief glimmer of hope with 29 runs, while Mohammad Rizwan fell for 10. The formidable duo of Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse emerged as the main architects of Pakistan’s impending doom, taking 2 wickets each. Should the situation persist, this looming defeat could mark a disheartening sixth consecutive Test loss for Pakistan on home soil.
