Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas won't be playing in the County Championship this year as the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club has canceled his contract owing to the continued uncertainty surrounding the 2020 County Championship season due to the global Coronavirus pandemic.
The 30-year-old was signed by Nottinghamshire as one of their overseas players and was due to feature in nine County Championship matches this season before joining Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming three-match Test series in England.
However, Nottinghamshire is now hoping for the curtailed county season to start from August 1 after the delay due to the Coronavirus outbreak, as well as, hopes Abbas will join the club in the future as they will keeping close eyes on the pacer’s performance when he will turn up for Pakistan in the upcoming Test series in England next month.
The star pacer has been named in the 29-member Pakistan squad for the England tour starting with the first Test on July 30 at Lord's while the three-match T20I series will get underway from August 29.
Director of Cricket Mick Newell stated: “We hope that circumstances will allow Mohammad to play some Test cricket in England this summer for Pakistan, and will certainly be watching with interest.”
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He further added, “His ability, nous, and experience have made him a threatening proposition in English conditions, and whilst it's impossible for him to link up with us this year, we're certainly not closing the door on welcoming him to Trent Bridge in the future.”
Noteworthy, Abbas enjoyed two previous county seasons with Leicestershire, taking 79 first-class wickets in 19 matches in 2018 and 2019, including five separate five-wicket hauls. He has also taken 75 wickets in 18 Tests for Pakistan so far since making Test debut in 2017.
(With IANS Inputs)
