Jason Gillespie, coach of Pakistan’s Test team, defended the decision to select only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, starting on August 21.
Gillespie highlighted the balance and potential within the squad, including the dual capabilities of Salman Ali Agha as a specialist spinner.
Gillespie detailed the reasons behind the selection strategy during a press briefing. “We consider both Salman Ali Agha and Abrar Ahmed as special spinners. Salman has shown considerable skill with his off-spin, while Abrar is emerging as a fine talent in his early career,” he stated.
The coach expressed confidence in the team’s composition, emphasizing the diverse bowling and batting options that will be instrumental for Pakistan.
“We have a robust line-up that includes several pace options as well as spin. It’s a pivotal time for our Test team, and we are poised for an exciting series,” Gillespie added.
The Pindi Stadium pitch, renowned for its pace-friendly conditions, is expected to influence Pakistan’s strategy to deploy four fast bowlers.
Confirmed to lead the pace attack are Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Mir Hamza, with the fourth spot still under contention between Khurram Shehzad and Mohammad Ali.