PAK vs. NZ | Twitter calls Pakistan ‘Team Abrar Ahmed’ after he single-handedly saved them with two stunning efforts
As much as cricket is a team sport, much of the battles on the pitch are individual in nature, giving players great power to change the game single-handedly. Abrar Ahmed turned the screws on the Kiwis on Thursday with a superb catch followed by the trapping of Kane Williamson LBW.
On a rare overcast day at the National Stadium in Karachi on Thursday, the second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand looked likely to be headed for a grudging draw in another high-scoring encounter. After the Black Caps put up a formidable 449 in the first set, the Men in Green rode on the back of Saud Shakeel’s century to find themselves just 41 points short of the total. The Kiwi looked set up again in the second set despite fly-half Devon Conway leaving for a golden duck, as Kane Williamson seemed set to continue 2023 in the same thread he left in 2022.
However, two moments of pure magic on the pitch disrupted the visitors’ walk through the park who found themselves running at 140/4 shortly after lunch. After coming under fire earlier in the day for wasting two crucial crits in two overs, Abrar Ahmed was positioned at midwicket court as Naseem Shah rushed into the bowl. A lengthy delivery on the pads was met with a bullish flick, but it seemed destined for gaps and perhaps headed for the edge. However, the valiant Abrar took a few steps to his left before diving low to the bottom. The ball somehow stuck to his hand and the bowler walked away in celebration, having helped secure Tom Latham’s crucial scalp for 62 to break a 109-point partnership.
Abrar was not finished yet. As he walked in to bowl the next day, the leggie delivered a long, long delivery to Kane Williamson. The Kiwi talisman attempted a sweep but couldn’t judge the spin and was knocked past the wicket. The referee quickly raised his finger to send the hosts into pandemonium.
Abrar, having quickly become a fan favorite, further solidified himself as a force to be reckoned with on the international stage through these efforts and received huge heaps of praise from Twitterati.
REMARKABLE CATCH 💥
Abrar Ahmed with an unreal take to fire Tom Latham 👏#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/LVKmMmdfhs— Pakistani Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 5, 2023
Moment of magic
Already counters
Abrar Ahmed in his 4th match has already got the wickets from.
Joe Root x2
Ben Stokes
Kane Williamson
Tom Latham.#PakvsNZ pic.twitter.com/TohmTd1CSm— StatPad Cricket (@khan_blanco) January 5, 2023
What a catch by Abrar Ahmed.🔥#PakvsNZ
— Mubasher Asif (@MubasherAsif) January 5, 2023
A hand
So watchable!
Abrar Ahmed’s penchant for being at the heart of the action is what makes the second #PakvsNZ test in Karachi so watchable.
Poor guy, endured more agony than a lover.
#CricketTwitter— Stereotype (@babumoshoy) January 5, 2023
Abrar ahmed with a stunner 😱😳🤯#PakvsNZ #NZvsPAK pic.twitter.com/31yHETFq52
– A.Wahab 🇵🇰 (@Cricketlab7562) January 5, 2023
Protect it!
Large counter
What a wonderful catch by Abrar Ahmed!! LARGE GATE ❤️#PakvsNZ #PAKvNZ
— 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗴 🇵🇰 (@Haris_BaigM) January 5, 2023
Abrar 👏⭐♥️#PAKvNZ #TayyariKiwiHai #AbrarAhmed
— ♡Alishba♡ (@AlishbaCh15) January 5, 2023
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