Nottinghamshire head coach hails pacer Mohammad Abbas
NOTTINGHAM: Nottinghamshire CCC head coach Peter Moores has expressed his excitement over the signing of experienced Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Abbas for this year’s county championship, calling him a player who “brings consistency, control, and a deep love for the game”.
Speaking to Geo News at Trent Bridge Nottingham, Peter Moores lauded Abbas’s ability to bowl economical spells, swinging the balls rather way on all types of tracks.
“Mohammad Abbas is a very good new-ball bowler who creates a lot of pressure and gives you control in the game. That’s the role he knows really well, and I’m looking forward to getting him going,”
Abbas, 34, will play for Nottinghamshire in six county championship matches in division one. He is set to join Notts in May as part of their red ball squad for three championship games and will return to Trent Bridge again in September for three more matches at the closing stage of the championship.
He said the club had been tracking Abbas for several years, even coming close to signing him earlier. “Mo has got lots of qualities, and I think we’ve watched him in county cricket over several years now. He’s always bowled well against us,” Moores said. “It’s actually funny – we identified him a few years ago and nearly signed him, but it didn’t come off. So for Abbas to finally get to Trent Bridge and play for us is exciting.”
Abbas, known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and maintain tight lines, is seen as a direct replacement for Aussie pacer Fergus O’Neill, who is set to leave after Nottinghamshire’s fourth game of the season.
Abbas has represented Pakistan in 27 test matches claiming exactly 100 wickets. In December 2024 he was recalled to the national duties for the tour of South Africa after a gap of three years. In the two-match series, he grabbed 10 wickets including 6/54 in the first test.
Beyond his on-field contributions, Moores emphasised Abbas’s experience and character as key assets. “Anybody with that sort of international experience offers a lot. Every time I’ve spoken to him, he’s shown he’s a real student of the game and he loves it. Players like him not only have great experience, but they’re often happy to share that knowledge with others — and that’s something we’re definitely looking forward to.”
Abbas, who last played a Test for Pakistan in March, is currently preparing for his stint with Nottinghamshire and is expected to join the squad in the first week of May.
“He’s already training, doing his stuff, and getting ready,” said Moores. “He’ll have about a week or so with us before he gets going. Interestingly, his first game will be against his old county, Hampshire — so that’ll be a tasty one.”
When asked about the long-term possibilities, Moores remained open. “There’s always potential. You try to build relationships with good players who can return and become part of the club. It’s not just about individual talent, but about creating strong team spirit — and Mo ticks all those boxes.”
Earlier, Abbas signed for Nottinghamshire CCC for the 2020 season but due to the COVID pandemic was unable to play for them and following year with the COVID travel restrictions eased he was snapped by Hampshire CCC where he stayed for the following four seasons.
