Pakistan have dropped fast bowler Mohammad Abbas from the playing XI for the second Test against the West Indies despite his impressive performance in the series opener, marking the first time in more than four decades that a Pakistani bowler has been omitted after taking a five-wicket haul in the previous Test.
Abbas was one of Pakistan’s standout performers in the opening match, claiming eight wickets across both innings. He took 3-63 in the first innings before producing a superb spell of 5-22 in the second, helping bowl the West Indies out for 181. Despite his efforts, Pakistan lost the Test by 90 runs.
According to cricket records, the last time Pakistan left out a bowler after a five-wicket haul was during the 1979-80 tour of India, when Ehteshamuddin was dropped after taking five wickets in the Kanpur Test and was replaced by Imran Khan for the following match in Chennai.
Pakistan’s team management said the decision was based on conditions at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, where they opted to strengthen their spin attack.
At the toss, captain Babar Azam said the conditions were different from the first Test and explained that the team had chosen to field an additional spinner.
Abbas was not the only player to miss out. Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad were also left out of the XI, with Awais Jafar and Ubaid Shah handed their Test debuts.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Shafique returned to the side after Shan Masood, who scored a century in the first Test, was ruled out through injury.
