After a three-year absence from Test cricket, Mohammad Abbas made a remarkable return to the Pakistan team during the first Test of the South Africa tour, claiming seven wickets, including a six-wicket haul in the second innings, which brought Pakistan tantalizingly close to a memorable victory in Centurion.

Despite a resilient effort from Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen that ultimately secured a two-wicket win for the Proteas, Abbas' outstanding performance on day four at SuperSport Park complicated what should have been a straightforward chase for the home side. He concluded the match with impressive figures of 6-54 in 19.3 overs.

Abbas' commendable display upon his return to Test cricket reignited discussions regarding his previous exclusion, which had been a significant point of contention with the PCB and the management of Pakistan cricket. His former teammate, Mohammad Amir, took to social media to express his views on the matter.

In a post on X, Amir stated: “Bring those coaches forward who removed Abbas because of his pace. And it took Abbas three years to make a comeback. A slap on their faces.”

Abbas delivered an impressive performance by bowling 15 consecutive overs

In a prolonged spell of 15 overs, Abbas proved to be a persistent threat, demonstrating remarkable accuracy. After dismissing Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs late on the third day, he returned to claim the significant wickets of Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma, reinvigorating Pakistan's chances in the match. He further solidified their position by removing David Bedingham and Corbin Bosch, who had scored a half-century in the first innings. His efforts contributed to a dramatic South African collapse from 96-4 to 99-8.

Abbas has been a player that Pakistan fans have eagerly anticipated seeing back in the international arena for several months, boasting an impressive First-class average of 20.63. Since 2021, he has excelled with Hampshire in the County Championship, amassing 180 wickets at an average below 20.

Despite bowling throughout the entire morning session and beyond, Abbas maintained unwavering consistency in his lines and lengths, posing challenges to the South African batsmen, even with a relatively modest pace. While he garnered praise for his performance and skill, a counter-attack from Jansen and Rabada resulted in a vital 51-run partnership that ultimately led South Africa to victory and secured their place in the World Test Championship finals.

Following an extraordinary Test match to conclude the year, the second match of the series is set to take place on New Year’s Day in Cape Town. The Proteas have already confirmed their spot in the WTC final with this victory, but Pakistan will draw significant confidence from their performance in Centurion as they aim to commence 2025 positively.

Read Also: Koneru Humpy: From Contemplating Retirement to Claiming a Second World Rapid Chess Title

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!