"Personal dislike will ruin him" - Kamran Akmal fumes over Abrar Ahmed snub

Pakistan has met criticism on their team selection just ahead of their first test against a touring Bangladesh. Pakistan is gearing up to face Bangladesh in the upcoming two-match Test series, with the first match scheduled to begin on August 2 in Rawalpindi. This series will mark the arrival of Jason Gillespie as Pakistan's Test coach. On Monday, Pakistan revealed their Playing XI for the first Test. Shockingly, the playing XI didn’t feature their only spinner in the squad, Abrar Ahmed. Former Pakistan player Kamran Akmal, in turn, has criticised the team management for opting to proceed without a spinner.

Akmal's blunt take on Pakistan leaving Abrar Ahmed out of the first test against Bangladesh

The absence of Abrar Ahmed means that Pakistan will present an all-pace attack against Bangladesh. The only spin options in the team remain within all-rounders Salman Ali Agha and Saud Shakeel. Slamming the team management over their decision, Kamran Akmal cited the example of the Indian team claiming that they will never go ahead without the likes of Jadeja and Ashwin in their test team.

“With Jason Gillespie (Pakistan's Test head coach), we are talking about the Australian mindset. But can Australia play without Nathan Lyon? Will India play without Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja? No, they won't. You have Abrar, but you have shut down his confidence so much," Akmal said.

The friction between the Pakistan management isn’t left a secret for anyone to guess. Opening up on the same, Akmal went on to say that personal likes and dislikes will ruin Abrar and eventually harm Pakistan. The former cricketer noted that the young spinner’s off-the-field activities were highlighted leading to the snub from the first test against Bangladesh.

“Due to personal likes and dislikes, that boy (Abrar) has been ruined. His fitness and off-the-field issues were highlighted, and because of that, you've spoiled that boy and harmed Pakistan," he added.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Ali are the leading fast bowlers for Pakistan in the first Test against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha will serve as the spin options for the hosts. Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub will open the innings for Pakistan, with the newly-appointed captain Shan Masood pitted in the middle order along with former skipper Babar Azam.

Pakistan Playing XI for first test against Bangladesh: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel (VC), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali