Islamabad, 25 March 2025: New Zealand have included uncapped all-rounder Muhammad Abbas in their squad for the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan.
The 22-year-old, born in Lahore, has impressed with both bat and ball in domestic cricket, earning him a maiden call-up to the national team.
Abbas, who plays for Wellington, comes from a cricketing background.
His father, Azhar Abbas, was a medium-pacer in the domestic circuit between 1994 and 2004 in Pakistan. Although Azhar was once on a longlist for the national squad, he never received a call-up.
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However, a conversation with former New Zealand cricketer Richard Petrie led him to secure a contract with the Kaori Club in Wellington.
This move led to a successful first-class career in New Zealand, where he took 154 wickets before becoming Wellington’s bowling coach.
Muhammad Abbas has followed a different path, excelling as a left-handed batter who can also bowl left-arm seam.
By the age of 14, he had already scored seven centuries, including two in T20 cricket. His performances in the 2023-24 Ford Trophy solidified his selection for the ODI squad.
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He ended the tournament as Wellington’s leading run-scorer with 340 runs at an average of 42.50, along with five wickets.
His performances in the final stages of the competition were particularly notable, with scores of 50 and 104 in consecutive matches, in addition to contributing with the ball.
Although he has played only three first-class matches in the Plunket Shield, he has shown promise with both bat and ball.
His inclusion in the national squad is expected to strengthen New Zealand’s middle order and provide an additional bowling option.
