Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas: “I am always available for the national team”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Abbas has made it clear that he is still available for selection despite not playing international cricket since August 2021.
Abbas holds a stellar Test record as he has taken 90 wickets in 25 matches at an average of 23.02.
With current speedsters Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah failing to perform consistently, there is a possibility Abbas could earn a recall to the national team, especially since he has a significant amount of first-class experience.
It should be noted that the 34-year-old has been actively playing county cricket for Hampshire over the past few years and has been in outstanding form for the team every season.
In the recently-concluded county season, he took 36 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 24.25.
He also surpassed 700 first-class wickets and currently sits on 710 wickets in 180 games at an average of 20.90.
Abbas knows that it will be tough for him to get back into the Pakistan Test team, but reiterated that he is ready to go if he receives a call-up to the side.
“I am always available for the national team,” the Sialkot native told Cricket Pakistan.
Abbas didn’t feature in the Champions One-Day Cup, which was a 50-over tournament held in Faisalabad.
However, did play in the President’s Cup Grade-I (1-Day) competition and picked up six wickets in four games for the State Bank of Pakistan at an average of 37.50.
Abbas was not picked for Pakistan’s Test series against Bangladesh, which they lost 2-0, or the three-Test series against England, which they won 2-1.
Instead, he has been in action in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and has taken 31 wickets in five games for the Lahore Region Blues, which includes two five-wicket hauls, at an average of 14.38.
The Pakistan team just finished a tour of Australia, where they won the ODI series 2-1 but lost the T20Is 3-0.
They will now head to Zimbabwe to play three ODIs and three T20Is from November 24 to December 5.
Pakistan Squad for Australia ODI Series: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan Squad for Australia T20I Series: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe ODI Series: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir
Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe T20I Series: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan