Zaheer Abbas is a former Pakistani cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He was born on July 24, 1947, in Sialkot, Pakistan. Abbas played for the Pakistani cricket team from 1969 to 1985, and also represented Gloucestershire in English county cricket. In this response, we'll take a closer look at his cricketing career, achievements and legacy.
Abbas made his debut for Pakistan in 1969 against New Zealand in Lahore. He quickly established himself as a top-class batsman, scoring his first Test century in just his second Test match against Australia in Melbourne in 1972. Abbas was a stylish and elegant batsman, known for his impeccable technique and graceful strokeplay. He was particularly adept at playing spin bowling, and was considered one of the best players of spin in his era.
Abbas played a total of 78 Test matches for Pakistan, scoring 5,062 runs at an impressive average of 44.79. He also scored 12 centuries and 20 half-centuries in Test cricket. Abbas' highest Test score was 274, which he scored against England at Edgbaston in 1971. In addition to his Test career, Abbas also played 62 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for Pakistan, scoring 2,572 runs at an average of 47.62.
Abbas had a number of notable achievements in his cricketing career. He was the first Asian batsman to score 100 first-class centuries, and finished his career with a total of 108 first-class hundreds. He was also the first player to score three consecutive centuries in ODI cricket. Abbas was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1972, and was awarded the Pride of Performance by the Pakistani government in 1984.
Abbas' career in county cricket was also highly successful. He played for Gloucestershire between 1972 and 1985, scoring over 16,000 runs at an average of 51.54. He also scored 49 centuries for the county, including a career-best score of 240 not out against Warwickshire in 1983. Abbas was named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1977 for his performances in county cricket.
After retiring from cricket, Abbas served as the coach of the Pakistan national cricket team from 1996 to 1997. He was also a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame.
In summary, Zaheer Abbas was one of the greatest cricketers to have represented Pakistan. He was a stylish and elegant batsman, and one of the best players of spin in his era. He had a highly successful career in Test and ODI cricket, as well as in county cricket in England. Abbas' achievements and legacy have earned him a place among the all-time greats of the game.
0 Comments