Snubbed By Babar Azam, Mohammad Abbas Unknowingly Equals 47-Year-Old Pakistan Record

Mohammad Abbas & Babar Azam celebrating a wicket during PAK vs WI Test (Source: AFP Photos)

On Sunday, Babar Azam left everyone in shock by benching Mohammad Abbas for the second and final Test between Pakistan and West Indies at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain. Abbas, who took eight wickets in the first Test, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings, could not even find a place in Pakistan’s playing XI vs West Indies for the second Test.

Babar, at the toss, confirmed that Abbas had no injury concerns, and he was solely dropped from the Pakistan XI due to Port of Spain conditions.

That even led to Mohammad Abbas making an unwanted record, courtesy of a surprising Babar Azam move.

Mohammad Abbas Joins Ehteshamuddin After Pakistan Snub

With the latest snub, Mohammad Abbas joined former Pakistan bowler Ehteshamuddin, who suffered a similar fate on the Pakistan tour of India in 1979/80.

It was a six-match Test series between India and Pakistan, and Ehteshamuddin took 5/47 during a single innings in the fourth Test at Green Park, Kanpur. Gundappa Viswanath, Yashpal Sharma, Syed Kirmani, Shivlal Yadav and Dilip Doshi were his victims in that innings, where he single-handedly tormented India.

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However, in the fifth Test between the two sides, which took place at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, the then Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal dropped Ehteshamuddin from the playing XI. Instead, he brought in Imran Khan, who later became the most successful Pakistan player across formats, as well as the best captain of their country of all time.

How Has Mohammad Abbas Fared In Red-Ball Cricket?

Abbas, now 36 years old, has been one of the best in the business for Pakistan, particularly whenever he has a red ball in hand. In 30 Test matches, he has picked up 118 wickets, averaging only 22.38.

Even his exceptional economy rate of 2.50 in Test cricket for Pakistan indicates batters often find it difficult to attack him out of nowhere.

In First-Class cricket, Abbas averages 20.39 after 220 outings, claiming 897 wickets. Only Imran Khan (1287 wickets), Wasim Akram (1042 wickets), Sarfaraz Nawaz (1005 wickets) and Waqar Younis (956 wickets) had more First-Class wickets than him from Pakistan.

Who Has Replaced Abbas In Pakistan Playing XI Vs WI?

In place of Abbas, Pakistan handed an international debut to Ubaid Shah, Naseem’s younger brother. Khurram Shahzad, who did all right in the first Test between Pakistan and West Indies, failed to make the cut as well.

Instead, Pakistan kept Ali Usman and added Sajid Khan as an additional spin option for the second Test.

The tactical move by Babar Azam does not look too promising for Pakistan as it stands. Batting first, West Indies reached 239/5 at stumps on Day 1. Ubaid, in particular, had a disastrous day with the ball in hand, conceding 56 runs in 9 overs for just one wicket.

Sajid, too, conceded 55 runs in 22 overs for just 1 wicket. Among them, the most impressive bowler was Mohammad Ali, who took 2/49 in 17 overs, including the wickets of Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Shai Hope.

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