ISLAMABAD: Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas on Saturday joined an elite club of bowling greats, claiming his 56th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket during the first Test against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Bangladesh.
The 36-year-old right-arm pacer finished with figures of 5 for 92 in 34 overs as Bangladesh were bowled out for 413 in their first innings. Abbas had taken just one wicket on the opening day, that of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for 101, but returned on the second morning to rip through the lower order.
6️⃣th Test five-wicket haul for Mohammad Abbas!
It’s been a wonderful exhibition of seam bowling from him 💫#BANvPAK pic.twitter.com/qyiasKLiCm
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 9, 2026
On Saturday, Abbas dismissed Litton Das (33), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (10), and Taijul Islam (17) in the first session before lunch. After the interval, he completed his five-for by removing Ebadot Hossain for a duck, finishing with a well-earned milestone.
56th five-for puts him alongside legends
This was Abbas’ 56th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, putting him level with India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and England’s James Anderson on the all-time list for active players.
Among those who have played first-class cricket in 2026, only Malinda Pushpakumara (86) and Simon Harmer (59) have taken more five-fors than this trio. Anderson is currently in action for Lancashire in the County Championship and could add to his tally in the coming days.
When Pakistan needed control and experience, Mohammad Abbas stepped up once again 👏
Relentless accuracy, patience, and wicket-taking spells that kept Bangladesh from running away with the game ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/WUsP1Hksxh
— Cricwick (@Cricwick) May 9, 2026
Most five-fors in first-class cricket (active players)
- Malinda Pushpakumara — 86 five-wicket hauls (debut 2006/07)
- Simon Harmer — 59 five-wicket hauls (debut 2009/10)
- James Anderson — 56 five-wicket hauls (debut 2002)
- R Ashwin — 56 five-wicket hauls (debut 2006/07)*
- Mohammad Abbas — 56 five-wicket hauls (debut 2008/09)
- Imran Tahir — 53 five-wicket hauls (debut 1996/97)*
*Ashwin and Tahir are active in other formats but have not played first-class cricket since 2024 and 2017 respectively. Abbas and Anderson are participating in ongoing first-class matches.
All-time record
The all-time record for most five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket is held by Alfred “Tich” Freeman, who took an astonishing 386 five-fors between 1914 and 1936. He is followed by Wilfred Rhodes with 287, achieved over a 32-year career from 1898 to 1930.
Mohammad Abbas let the ball do all the talking on Day 2 with a sixth five-wicket haul in Tests 💥#WTC27 | 📝: https://t.co/naUIkpeTT8 pic.twitter.com/vLDwGRpgQb
— ICC (@ICC) May 9, 2026
Match context
Earlier in the Mirpur Test, Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first on a green-tinged pitch. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali provided early breakthroughs, but Mominul Haque (91) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (101) rebuilt Bangladesh’s innings, taking the hosts to 301 for 4 at stumps on day one.
By the end of the second day’s play, Pakistan were comfortably placed at 179 for 1 in 46 overs, trailing by 234 runs, with debutant Azan Awais (85 not out) and Abdullah Fazal (37 not out) at the crease.
