Mohammad Abbas re-signs with Hampshire for the upcoming county season

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Abbas has joined Hampshire for the second time for the upcoming season of county cricket. He would be the second overseas player for the team alongside Kyle Abbott. Both Abbott and Abbas played for Hampshire during the last season of County Championship.

Abbas picked 41 wickets in ten matches in the previous season of the County Championship at an average of 15.87. He took three five-wicket hauls in the tournament. His best efforts came against Middlesex in April last year where he picked six wickets for 11 runs.

“I’m delighted to be joining Hampshire again. I really enjoyed the environment and playing with this squad at a fantastic ground like The Ageas Bowl. I know there’s a big desire at the Club for silverware in the County Championship and hopefully I can play my part and contribute with the ball,” Abbas said in an official statement released by the club.

“Mo showed everybody last year that he is a bowler of the highest quality. He’s an extremely popular member of the squad, so we are thrilled he’s agreed to come back and he joins Kyle Abbott as our second overseas signing,” Hampshire Director of Cricket Giles White said in the official statement.

Mohammad Abbas has picked over 500 wickets in first-class cricket

Meanwhile, Abbas has played 25 Test matches for Pakistan since making his debut on April 21, 2017. He picked his first Test wicket with his second ball as he dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck. Abbas picked 50 wickets in just ten matches and became the fastest pace bowler to reach this mark for Pakistan. PCB awarded him with the Test Player of the Year Award in 2018. He picked 38 wickets in seven Test matches in 2018 at an average of 13.76.

Abbas has picked 90 wickets in 25 Test matches at an average of 23.02 and has picked four five-fers in his Test career. He has also played three ODIs for Men in Green. Overall, Abbas has played 132 First-Class matches and has picked 539 wickets at an average of 20.79. He has picked 38 five-wicket hauls and a ten-wicket haul in a match 11 times.