PAK vs ENG: Abrar Ahmed betters Fazal Mahmood's long-standing record for Pakistan

Abrar Ahmed picked up 11 wickets in his debut Test match [Source: Associated Press]

Pakistan's new mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed created history for his side when he claimed a Test fifer on debut in under one session on Day 1 of the Multan Test against England last week. The 24-year-old etched his name in the history books this week as well, surpassing the great Fazal Mahmood's long-standing 70-year-old record during the ongoing Karachi Test.

The young spinner so far in two Tests has 17 Test wickets; 11 for 234 in Multan and currently sits on 6 for 193 in the ongoing third and final Test. Mahmood claimed 14 wickets in the first-two Tests against India back in 1952.

Others behind Mahmood include Zahid Mehmood (13) and Arif Butt (13), Yasir Shah (12), Wasim Akram  (12), Mohammad Zahid (12), Iqbal Qasim (11), and Abdur Rehman (11).

The leg-spinner still has one innings under his belt to improve his tally even further. 

India's Narendra Hirwani holds the record for most wickets after two Tests, with 24 that came in 1988 in his first two Tests versus West Indies and New Zealand, respectively.

Ahmed registered the best bowling figures for a spinner for Pakistan, taking 11 for 234, just behind Mohammad Zahid's 11 for 130 against New Zealand in 1996.

The Karachi-born was recently picked up by Islamabad United for Pakistan Super League 2023.

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