Mohammad Abbas has once again led Pakistan’s red-ball attack admirably. His eight wickets in a losing cause against the West Indies in the first Test at Tarouba, including a five-fer in the second essay, proved that hard work always pays off. He never shies away from striving and gives his best with a nagging line and length to yield good rewards.
It often looks like a trite cliché when we say that someone’s story is “of rags to riches,” but in Abbas’s journey it is not only apt but also inspiring. The unassuming fast bowler comes from Jathekey, a village close to Sialkot city.
Cricket attracted him at an early age, and like many youngsters, he indulged in tape-ball cricket in the streets and then on grounds. But to assist a modest family with limited resources, Abbas had to fill in with his share. He started off in a welding factory in the close-by village, Sambrial. But the after effects of sparks affected his vision. He shifted to a dry port in Sialkot, then worked in a leather factory before landing in a city court.
“Those were very tough days,” recalls Abbas. “My vision was seriously affected by welding, so I changed tack, and finally the court work helped me keep a good balance between work and cricket.” Life suddenly took a sharp turn as one day he was denied an off to play a cricket match. “Either you work, or you play,” was the order.
That night Abbas made a final decision; his destination was a cricket ground, not a court office.
Luckily, his talent was spotted by former Pakistan batter Zahid Fazal during the Under-19 district-level trials. That gave him a good start, but hurdles came frequently. After a good performance in the first match, the management dropped him for the next. His captain, Khurram Shehzad, took a stance.
“Zahid Fazal told me that he had been told to include another player from high-ups, so he had to drop Abbas. I insisted that I wanted Abbas, so finally we decided to have a toss. If I win, Abbas will play; if I lose, the other guy will be included. My luck had always been good at the toss, so I won, and Abbas played.” Despite a calf injury, Abbas took five wickets and his journey took off.”
Season after season, Abbas was the leading bowler in domestic cricket. Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan captain at that time, spotted Abbas’s talent and, after his 61 wickets in that Quaid Trophy event in 2015-16, decided to give him a break.
By leaps and bounds, Abbas became Misbah’s man-to-go and reaped rewards for Pakistan. In his debut series in 2017, Abbas took 15 wickets in three Tests against the West Indies. He played a vital role in Pakistan’s first-ever series win in the Caribbean, a 2-1 result.
Abbas’s exploits at international level soon made him a big signee in English counties. He helped Hampshire become a force and is now the most valued bowler in those climes. His ability to peg back batters, bowl a fourth stump line and get wickets after wickets made him a county cricket great.
A famous anecdote goes that Abbas was given a special room in the hotel adjacent to the county’s home ground in Southampton. Once Manchester City wanted the room for their illustrious coach Pep Gardiola, but it was denied with an assertion that “it’s reserved for Abbas!”
Two years into his career, Abbas suffered a double whammy. A shoulder injury affected his bowling, and the selectors of those times sidelined him on a hair-brained strategy that he lacked speed. For three years, Abbas plied his trade in county cricket only, and Pakistan team’s doors were shut on him.
When the selectors tried everyone, they were reminded of Abbas. Brought back in 2024, Abbas almost won a Test in South Africa with a six-wicket haul in Centurion but for a late fight by the rivals snatched a win from Pakistan.
Abbas has since been a consistent performer. “My aim is to always do better from the previous match, and for that I work hard. I am relieved when my wickets help my team win. If not, then I am not happy.”
Abbas remains an unsung hero. But the self-effacing chap is not bothered about attention. He wants to perform for the team, always. Attention or none of it doesn’t bother him.
