Abrar Ahmed credits Rizwan for ‘confidence’ after successful ODI debut

Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed in action during second ODI against Zimbabwe on November 26, 2024. - Livestream screengrabBULAWAYO: Debutant leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed hailed white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan for giving him confidence that led to his match-winning bowling performance in the second ODI of the three-match series against Zimbabwe here at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday.Abrar, who registered a record-equalling four-wicket haul on ODI debut, acknowledged that he was under pressure, mainly due to the series opener’s outcome but shared that his self-belief and confidence given by the skipper brought the best out of him. “Look, there is always a pressure of the international match and the way we lost the first match so, obviously, the pressure was there but I had self-belief as I had been bowling consistently in search of the opportunity since quite a long time,” said Abrar.“Rizwan had already given me a lot of confidence in the starting. He had told me that ‘Abrar, you’ll have to bowl with the new ball and also whenever I need you in the middle [overs], you’ll come [to bowl].’ So, I carried that confidence forward,” he added.Abrar was supported by vice-captain Salman Ali Agha, who dismantled Zimbabwe’s middle-order with three wickets, while part-timer Saim Ayub and left-arm spinner Faisal Akram chipped in with one scalp apiece as the home side were skittled for a meagre 145 in 32.3 overs.In response, a swashbuckling century by emerging opener Saim helped the visitors to amass the total without losing a wicket and 190 balls to spare.Saim dominated the Zimbabwean bowlers, smashing them for 20 boundaries, including three sixes, on his way to an unbeaten 113 off just 62 deliveries.The left-handed opener, as a result, pipped Abrar Ahmed to earn the Player of the Match award.“No doubt, everyone knows about Saim Ayub that if he gets going, he’ll turn the match in a one-sided affair. I sincerely wish that he keeps performing like this and continues winning matches for Pakistan,” Abrar lauded Saim. Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News. Abrar Ahmed Comments Submit مضمون کا ماخذ:گرم سے زیادہ گرم