Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Abbas: “Selection matters are beyond my control and only the PCB’s selection committee can answer why I am not part of the national squad again”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan speedster Mohammad Abbas cannot understand why he has not played international cricket since August 2021 and believes the selectors must hold the answer to that question.
Abbas used to be a key member of the pace attack in Test cricket and regularly got wickets due to his impeccable line and length.
The 34-year-old has taken 90 wickets in 25 Test matches at a brilliant average of 23.02.
Since being dropped from the national team, Abbas has regularly played in the County Championship in England, where he represents Hampshire.
In the recent season, he claimed 36 wickets in 11 games at an average of 24.25.
He also achieved a significant milestone, picking up his 700th first-class wicket.
Currently, the Sialkot native has 710 wickets in 180 first-class matches at an average of 20.90.
“I am currently busy playing county cricket, which allows me to bowl a lot and work on my fitness. Despite my consistent performance in domestic and county cricket, the selection matters are beyond my control and only the PCB’s selection committee can answer why I am not part of the national squad again,” he told Cricket Pakistan.
“I continue to play domestic cricket in Pakistan regularly and have performed exceptionally well everywhere.”
Abbas didn’t play in the Champions One-Day Cup, which was a domestic 50-over competition that took place in Faisalabad.
However, he is in action in the President’s Cup Grade-I (1-Day) competition and has taken two wickets in two games for the State Bank of Pakistan at an average of 65.
The Pakistan team recently faced Bangladesh in a two-Test series and were comprehensively beaten 2-0.
They are now taking on England in a three-match Test series and trail 1-0 after losing the first Test in Multan by an innings and 47 runs.
The second Test will begin on October 15 in Multan.
Pakistan Squad for 2nd and 3rd Tests against England: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Zahid Mahmood.