[EXCLUSIVE] "ICC needs to give Pakistan more Test cricket": Mohammad Abbas

[The Bald Eagle]

Despite taking over 700 first-class wickets, Mohammad Abbas has been continuously overlooked for Pakistan’s Test squad selection. While Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have struggled in recent series, Pakistan has missed the experience of a bowler like Abbas, who last featured in a Test match in August 2021.

Currently shining for Hampshire in the County Championship, Abbas boasts the best bowling average among Pakistanis with 700+ FC wickets. In this exclusive interview with Saj, Abbas reflects on his form, Pakistan's recent performances, and why he's been absent from the Test team.

Highlights of this insightful interview:

​

On reaching 700 first-class wickets: Mohammad Abbas expressed feelings of gratitude on achieving this commendable milestone and shared insights regarding his journey to the glory.

On being left out of the Pakistan team: Abbas spoke his heart out on the aspect of his prolonged absence from the Pakistan squad despite brilliant performances in the English County.

His request to the ICC: Abbas urged ICC to arrange more Test series for the team green in future in order to provide them a level playing field in comparison with other big Test playing nations.

Thoughts on Pakistan’s pacers: Pakistan pacer emphasized the need to shift focus from white-ball to red-ball cricket for the Pakistan bowlers in order to achieve desirable results in the Test format.

Thoughts on the Pakistan-England Test series: Mohammad Abbas expressed his views regarding the upcoming home Test series for Pakistan and also shared some valuable tips for the success against England.

 

[gazza619]

Exactly. India should be barred from playing the test championship final, until it beats PakistAn.

Bara aya champion

 

[pakistani pride]

No thanks.
1st make a team that can actually play test cricket.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Its the boards who negotiate Test Series among themselves. ICC has nothing to do with it. Not anyone's fault when PCB schedules 2 Test Matches but 5 T20Is.

 

[AMSS]

It's amazing that an international cricketer who has represented Pakistan thinks that ICC allocates test matches to member countries.

Not surprising this lack of knowledge comes packaged with conspiracy theories that the whole world is against them.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

No thanks.
1st make a team that can actually play test cricket.

Or perhaps make a team that can actually compete in all formats.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Abbas is right, Pakistan team need to play from red ball cricket as white ball cricket not enough for holistic improvement in PCT.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Despite taking over 700 first-class wickets, Mohammad Abbas has been continuously overlooked for Pakistan’s Test squad selection. While Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have struggled in recent series, Pakistan has missed the experience of a bowler like Abbas, who last featured in a Test match in August 2021.

Currently shining for Hampshire in the County Championship, Abbas boasts the best bowling average among Pakistanis with 700+ FC wickets. In this exclusive interview with Saj, Abbas reflects on his form, Pakistan's recent performances, and why he's been absent from the Test team.

Highlights of this insightful interview:

​

On reaching 700 first-class wickets: Mohammad Abbas expressed feelings of gratitude on achieving this commendable milestone and shared insights regarding his journey to the glory.

On being left out of the Pakistan team: Abbas spoke his heart out on the aspect of his prolonged absence from the Pakistan squad despite brilliant performances in the English County.

His request to the ICC: Abbas urged ICC to arrange more Test series for the team green in future in order to provide them a level playing field in comparison with other big Test playing nations.

Thoughts on Pakistan’s pacers: Pakistan pacer emphasized the need to shift focus from white-ball to red-ball cricket for the Pakistan bowlers in order to achieve desirable results in the Test format.

Thoughts on the Pakistan-England Test series: Mohammad Abbas expressed his views regarding the upcoming home Test series for Pakistan and also shared some valuable tips for the success against England.

In Pakistan's case ICC needs to enforce a No nepotism/ Merit selection clause. Pakistan has now become the most nepotism ridden country. Where merit takes a back seat. Normally no cricket board would pursue a policy of Nepotism and favoring players with connections. Because it will show up in overall performance of the team, Pakistan is now failing across the board, in all formats. If course correction is not taken Pakistan will soon loose it's full ICC test member status (like what happened with Hockey which was once it's national sport).

ICC in past tried unsuccessfully to remove political influences from PCB. However this nepotism would be an easier thing to remove at least from international teams that represent Pakistan. PCB selectors should be afraid of being questioned by ICC when they play, a player that does not perform and has a long record of not performing (and also question why someone with a far better track record is continuously being ignored). What is the point of participating in a sport if there is no Fair play, no merit? By purposely ignoring your best players, Pakistan is not only robbing itself of any chance of success, it is undermining the sport of Cricket as whole. ICC should also listen to all complaints of Nepotism. Such a measure by ICC will bring more transparency and then Selectors at PCB will think twice before picking someone to lead the side because of his English speaking ability or who his father or uncle is in future.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Still don't understand why he was discarded after a couple of bad/average series. Especially when you look at the state of our bowling attack in Tests right now.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Still don't understand why he was discarded after a couple of bad/average series. Especially when you look at the state of our bowling attack in Tests right now.

Because people did not like seeing him bowl 120kph as they wanted 140kph bowlers. Eventually we all saw what we got then.

 

[CadPakFan]

Because people did not like seeing him bowl 120kph as they wanted 140kph bowlers. Eventually we all saw what we got then.

You forget he actually got quite slow, like consistently 70 mph and he became quite ineffective, at 75-80 mph he made impact but he slowed down quite a bit. Also, Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad had really great tours of Australia idk what you mean, Abbas could only dream of bowling like how they did in those notoriously difficult conditions.

 

[BouncerGuy]

You forget he actually got quite slow, like consistently 70 mph and he became quite ineffective, at 75-80 mph he made impact but he slowed down quite a bit. Also, Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad had really great tours of Australia idk what you mean, Abbas could only dream of bowling like how they did in those notoriously difficult conditions.

in 25 matches he has 90 wickets and he picked those wickets mostly in UAE, WI and England. If abbas can take wickets with 70 MPH, I will pick him anyday over 90-95 MPH bowlers.

Yes, his last few games were not that good so he was dropped but it is not like he is finished. Look at him county record.
700 FC wickets is no joke.

 

[CadPakFan]

in 25 matches he has 90 wickets and he picked those wickets mostly in UAE, WI and England. If abbas can take wickets with 70 MPH, I will pick him anyday over 90-95 MPH bowlers.

Yes, his last few games were not that good so he was dropped but it is not like he is finished. Look at him county record.
700 FC wickets is no joke.

That's the thing he didn't take all his wickets at 70 MPH, before he would bowl more consistently around 80 MPH and then 75 MPH on the lower end but during his last few series he slowed down like that and was even slow in domestic for a little while till he got back into his rhythm and started preforming again. That being said yeah, on pitches like were producing in Pakistan right now, he would definitely be an asset and yeah 700 FC Wickets at under a 21 avg is insane.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

You forget he actually got quite slow, like consistently 70 mph and he became quite ineffective, at 75-80 mph he made impact but he slowed down quite a bit. Also, Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad had really great tours of Australia idk what you mean, Abbas could only dream of bowling like how they did in those notoriously difficult conditions.

Where did I state anything else apart from the speeds he was bowling at.

Unfortunately the type of pitches Pak produced weren't conducive enough for his 120kph bowling as players were negotiating him easily by batting way outside of the crease for any movement he might have got.

The conditions in England county are conducive for his style as he can bowl penetrative lines with getting good movement.

 

[Saj]

Player after player just interested in making quick money in T20 leagues around the world, that seems to be the Pakistani way these days.

If you gave players the option of opting out of domestic cricket and just playing T20 leagues, most Pakistani players would take it.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Player after player just interested in making quick money in T20 leagues around the world, that seems to be the Pakistani way these days.

If you gave players the option of opting out of domestic cricket and just playing T20 leagues, most Pakistani players would take it.

The additional metric to judge the calibre of player now is do they have the desire to achieve at the top level or are they content with being a league player. Footballers have the same dilemma. I think ultimately the cream always rises to the top.

We can say this is the adjustment period after the birth of PSL and we will grow out of this soon.