ABU DHABI: Afghanistan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad has reminded cricket fans of Australian spin legend Shane Warne after producing a spectacular delivery to dismiss Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto during their one-off Test match in Abu Dhabi.
Although Ahmad had a modest overall performance in the match, taking two wickets for 130 runs, his delivery to Shanto in Bangladesh’s second innings grabbed attention for its sharp turn and precision.
The ball pitched outside the off stump, close to what the report described as the sixth-stump line, before spinning sharply through the gap between the bat and pad and hitting the stumps between middle and leg.
Shanto was unable to read the turn and was clean bowled, leaving spectators impressed by the quality of the delivery.
A Reminder of Shane Warne’s Legendary Spin
Australian great Shane Warne remains one of cricket’s most celebrated leg-spinners, renowned for deliveries that appeared almost impossible for batters to negotiate.
Two of his famous deliveries to England batters Mike Gatting and Andrew Strauss have been included in discussions of the greatest balls in cricket history, often described as contenders for the “Ball of the Century.”
Qais Ahmad’s delivery has drawn comparisons with Warne’s ability to generate sharp turn and deceive batters. While one outstanding ball does not establish a direct equivalence between the two bowlers, it has provided cricket fans with a memorable moment in the ongoing Test.