Hunger to Perform Reignited After Losing Spot, Says Spinner
Pakistan’s place in the tri-nation series final was sealed with a dominant win over the United Arab Emirates, and much of the credit went to individual brilliance — particularly from Fakhar Zaman and Abrar Ahmed.
While Fakhar’s gritty 77-run knock stabilized Pakistan’s innings after a shaky start, it was Abrar Ahmed’s career-best spell of 4 wickets for just 9 runs that completely broke the UAE’s chase and turned the game decisively in Pakistan’s favor.
Speaking to the media after the match, Abrar said his performance was fueled by the frustration and hunger that built up while he was left out of the playing XI in earlier matches.
“When you’re sitting outside, your hunger to perform increases. I’ve been doing well in the PSL for two years. You just wait for your chance,” he said.
The 25-year-old leg-spinner lost his place to Sufiyan Muqeem earlier in the series but was brought back into the side after Sufiyan struggled to make an impact. That time on the bench, Abrar revealed, helped him refocus and reignite his competitive edge.
He also praised head coach Mike Hesson’s approach, which involves rotating players and giving each squad member a fair chance.
“The coach is giving everyone an opportunity to prove themselves. It’s a fair system,” Abrar added.
Despite flashes of brilliance in both PSL and international cricket, Abrar has yet to cement his spot as a mainstay in Pakistan’s T20 setup. He featured in only one game during the Bangladesh tour and was on the sidelines for the first three games of this tri-series.
However, with the Asia Cup looming and eyes on the T20 World Cup next year, Abrar’s timely return to form could be exactly what Pakistan’s spin attack needs. If his performance against UAE is anything to go by, Pakistan may have just rediscovered a crucial weapon in their bowling arsenal.
