Abbas got Stokes out with an unbelievably good delivery in the first innings at Old Trafford.
Abbas' magnificent wobble seam delivery threatened to come in from the round the wicket angle, but then beat the left-hander Stokes outside off after pitching to crash on to the stumps.
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The dismissal raved over everwhere took place in the first innings at the Old Trafford and happened despite Stokes standing outside the crease to counter the movement that Abbas was getting.
Usually when a batsman stands outside the crease, bowlers tend to shorten their lengths to try and push him back. Abbas didn't let Stokes' deliberate move play into his minds and stuck to his strengths.
"Ben Stokes is a big name in cricket right now. He is one of the world's best allrounders, and he's performed several times for his country. Before the game, we watched videos and analysed how best to disrupt him," Abbas told the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
"So we went round the wicket straightaway. I tried to bowl in the right areas, and he kept moving forward to try and disturb me. But my view is when a batsman comes forward, I am not disturbed by that. I feel I am disturbing the batsman by forcing him to move around the crease," he added.
Abbas said he regrets the fact that despite gaining great momentum in the match, Pakistan failed to defend 277 on a deteriorating track in the final innings in Manchester. But the seamer backed his team to come up with an inspiring performance and win in the third and final Test that shall allow the visitors to keep their streak of not losing a series in the UK since 2010 intact. The previous Test in Southampton ended as a draw.
“There is certainly a regret [of losing the first Test]. We played good cricket for three-and-a-half days and England won it by playing only two hours of good cricket. We have a great record in England … I am excited for the third Test and looking forward to give a performance which will help my team level the series," said Abbas, who has looked the best Pakistani bowler on the trip so far.
The medium-pacer now has the best Test average among bowlers with 50 or more overs in England since the start of 2018.
“I stick to my strengths and assess the conditions by reading the pitch and the batsman. Though I have had a good run in the UAE, I am enjoying the experience of bowling in England," said the 30-year-old.
"The weather conditions here are conducive for seam bowling and the pronounced seam of the Dukes ball provides assistance to fast bowlers," he added.