Former batting legend Zaheer Abbas is back in the news — long after he had hanged his boots. Abbas — nicknamed Asian Bradman and Run Machine — has joined the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame. Among the most feared batsmen of his times, Abbas is now among the only 93 international cricketers to have made it to the elite club. They include six from Pakistan viz, Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
Making his Test debut in 1969, Abbas smashed a double hundred — 274 to be exact — only in his second Test, and that too under testing English conditions. The score is still the sixth-ever highest total by a Pakistani batsman. Known for his excellent footwork and superlative wrist work, the stylish right-hander conquered the English, Australian and West Indian pacers right through the decade of 1970s and became the first Asian batsman to hit hundred centuries in first class cricket.
During a home series against India in 1982-83, Abbas became the first batsman to score three consecutive centuries in one-day internationals, and remains one of only two batsmen to have scored hundreds in five consecutive international innings. Such was Zaheer’s form during that series that Indian players would appreciate his run-making spree by saying “Zaheer Ab-bas” meaning “Zaheer, stop it now” in Urdu and Hindi. This had been disclosed by none other than anther batting great, Sunil Gavaskar, while doing commentary on television during a match. Abbas has also served as ICC president, becoming only the third cricketer to hold the top post.
It’s indeed a matter of great honour and pride for Pakistan, as PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani rightly said. One of the best batsmen to have graced the game anywhere, Abbas truly deserves the ICC recognition and remains an inspiration for young and budding cricketers in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2020.
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