Nottinghamshire cancels Mohammad Abbas’ county contract amid delayed season

Nottinghamshire have cancelled the contract of Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas owing to the continued uncertainty surrounding the County Championship season due to Covid-19.

Abbas was signed by Nottinghamshire as one of their overseas players and had been due to feature in nine Championship games before joining Pakistan’s Test squad for the England series.

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Nottinghamshire is now hoping for the curtailed county season to start from August 1, which means the Pakistan pacer will be unavailable as he has been named in the 29-member squad announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the England Test series, expected to begin from August 5.

"We'll review Abbas again in the future. It's impossible for him to come over. The next cricket he'll play here you would hope is a Test series for Pakistan," Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell said as quoted by Nottingham Post. "We'll watch that keenly and see how he gets on."

Abbas took 79 first-class wickets in 19 matches for Leicestershire in 2018 and 2019, including five separate five-wicket hauls.

The county was also hoping to sign Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim for the Vitality T20 Blast, but that deal has not been completed.