Despite being in outstanding form, experienced fast bowler Mohammad Abbas has been dropped from Pakistan's Test squad for the second Test against the West Indies. His omission comes just after claiming eight wickets across both innings in the opening Test, creating a rare milestone in Pakistan cricket after 46 years.
According to historical records, the last time a Pakistani bowler was left out of the following Test after taking a five-wicket haul was during the 1979-80 series against India. On that occasion, Ehteshamuddin was dropped after claiming five wickets in the Kanpur Test. No Pakistani bowler had experienced a similar fate since then.
Abbas was one of Pakistan's standout performers in the first Test. He produced a brilliant spell in the second innings, taking 5 wickets for just 22 runs, after picking up 3 wickets for 63 runs in the first innings. However, despite his impressive individual performance, Pakistan suffered a disappointing 90-run defeat.
For the second Test at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, the Pakistan team management opted to strengthen the spin attack after assessing the pitch conditions. As a result, Abbas was left out of the playing XI to accommodate an extra spinner.
At the toss, Pakistan captain Babar Azam explained that the conditions at the venue were significantly different from those in the first Test, prompting the team to include an additional specialist spinner.
Alongside Abbas, Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad were also omitted from the second Test lineup. Debutants Awais Jafri and Ubaid Shah have been handed their maiden Test caps, while opener Abdullah Shafique has returned from injury to replace first-Test centurion Shan Masood in the playing XI.
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