Pakistan’s veteran fast bowler Mohammad Abbas has opened up about a deeply challenging personal period and reaffirmed his commitment to cricket, calling for greater recognition of domestic performances and increased Test opportunities for Pakistan. Speaking ahead of his departure to England for the second phase of the County Championship, Abbas detailed his recent struggles and aspirations for both himself and Pakistan’s Test cricket future.
In an interview, Abbas revealed that while he was in talks over county offers, he suffered two tragic losses in his family, with two of his younger siblings passing away in the span of two months. “It was a very difficult time,” he said, “but now my entire focus is on cricket.”
Having previously represented Hampshire for four seasons, Abbas said his debut stint with Nottinghamshire is going well. “I’ve taken 16 wickets in three matches so far,” he noted, adding that with a contract extension in place, seven more matches remain in the season.
Expressing frustration over what he perceives as unfair criticism, Abbas said that judgments about his form are often made without considering his full record. “People claim I only perform in England,” he stated, “but I ask them to look at my record in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy — which is in Pakistan.” He emphasized that since 2014, his bowling average in the domestic competition has been 16, one of the best in the country.
Abbas, who is approaching the 800 first-class wickets milestone, highlighted that among currently active fast bowlers with over 600 wickets globally, he has the best average. He also ranks third on the list of fast bowlers with the most instances of taking 10 or more wickets in a match.
Reflecting on his international career, Abbas lamented the limited number of Test matches he has been given. “I believe I should have played more Tests,” he said. “Sometimes negative opinions come my way, but I try to overcome them and always strive for top performance.”
He urged the Pakistan Cricket Board to prioritize first-class cricket and voiced concerns over the scarcity of Test matches allocated to Pakistan. “I request the ICC to schedule more Test matches for Pakistan,” he appealed.
