Want to make formidable pair with Shaheen Afridi: Mohammad Abbas

Pakistan pacer, Mohammad Abbas, has expressed his happiness over the impressive improvement in the performance of young fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi and wants to make a pair with him if he makes a comeback in the team.

In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Abbas, who played alongside Shaheen during his national team debut, considers him as his younger brother, and is delighted to see his success as a fast bowler.

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"Shaheen has improved his cricket a lot since his debut, when I was part of the national team. He's like my little brother, and I feel very happy for him. I met him at the NCA during his rehab, and I wish him all the best in his career," Abbas said.

"If given the chance to make a comeback in the Pakistan team, I aspire to form a formidable pair with Shaheen Afridi. His current performance is inspiring, and I aim to emulate it and build upon my past successes, with the ultimate goal of contributing as much as possible to our team's success," he added. 

The 33-year-old also spoke about the abundance of talented fast bowlers in Pakistan, but he emphasized the importance of playing at least four seasons of domestic cricket to succeed at the highest level.

"I take immense pride in witnessing the abundance of talented fast bowlers in Pakistan. However, to succeed at the highest level, these young bowlers must play at least four seasons of domestic cricket. Playing four-day cricket or participating in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy will prepare them for the rigors of Test cricket, and enable them to compete at the highest level," he said.

The right -arm pacer, who has taken 616 first-class wickets emphasizes that Test cricket demands not only skill but also mental and physical endurance.

"Test cricket is a challenge that requires not only skill but also mental and physical endurance. The climatic changes between different cricket-playing nations can be a significant hurdle for players. Going from hot weather in Pakistan to the cold, wet weather of England can disrupt a player's rhythm. To adapt and excel in different conditions, players need to play at the top level in domestic cricket. Only then can they maintain their grip and survive the rigors of Test cricket," he said.

 "It's not uncommon to see bowlers getting injured after playing T20I cricket and then switching towards Test cricket. It's imperative to manage players' workload and ensure they're adequately prepared for the challenge," he concluded.

Abbas is in outstanding form as he took nine wickets for Hampshire in his first County Championship match against Nottinghamshire this season.