ISLAMABAD: New Zealand have included uncapped Wellington batting all-rounder Muhammad Abbas in their squad for the three-match ODI series against Pakistan starting from March 29.
New Zealand will host Pakistan for three ODIs, at Napier on March 29 and April 2, and at Mount Maunganui on April 5. Tom Latham will lead them in the absence of captain Mitchell Santner, who is playing in the ongoing IPL.
Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Glenn Phillips also have IPL commitments; Matt Henry is recovering from the shoulder injury he sustained during the Champions Trophy semi-final; and Kyle Jamieson has been rested.
The squad includes two uncapped Wellington cricketers, batter Nick Kelly and left-arm-seam-bowling all-rounder Muhammad Abbas, as well as Auckland leg-spinner Adithya Ashok, who played two ODIs and a T20I in 2023.
Who is Muhammad Abbas?
Hailing from a humble farming background, Azhar Abbas carved his niche in the Pakistan domestic cricket scene from 1994 to 2004 as a medium-pace bowler. Despite being named in a long-list for the national team, fate did not grant him a spot on the final roster. However, a fortuitous chat with former New Zealand international Richard Petrie opened the door to a contract with the Kaori Club in Wellington.
Azhar’s journey led him to play first-class cricket for Wellington and later for Auckland, amassing an impressive tally of 154 wickets at an average of 25.18. In addition to his first-class exploits, he showcased his skills in 22 List A matches and seven T20 encounters. Transitioning into coaching, he became a pivotal figure in New Zealand cricket as the founder of the New Zealand Pace Academy and currently serves as the bowling coach for Wellington.
His son, Muhammad Abbas, born in Lahore, is a promising batsman who also dabbles in left-arm seam bowling. By the age of 14, he had already notched up seven centuries, including two in the fast-paced 20-over format. His stellar performance in the Ford Trophy, where he scored 340 runs (the highest for Wellington) at an average of 42.50 and claimed five wickets, earned him an ODI call-up. Notably, his teammate Kelly, who was the second-highest run-scorer, also received a call from the selectors.
In his recent outings in February, Muhammad’s form peaked with impressive scores of 50 and 3-34, followed by a remarkable 104 and 1-59 in his last two matches. Though he has only played three first-class games in the Plunket Shield, he consistently reached 20 in all six innings and took six wickets, showcasing his emerging talent on the cricketing stage.
New Zealand squad for Pakistan ODIs
Tom Latham (c), Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Mitch Hay, Nick Kelly, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Will Young.
