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Son of former Pakistan first-class bowler Azhar Abbas, Muhammad Abbas scripted history on his ODI debut for New Zealand against Pakistan at McLean Park, Napier. On March 29, Abbas walked in to bat in the slog overs and broke the record for the fastest half-century on ODI debut. He reached his half-century from just 24 balls to get the record in his name.
The previous record was held by Indian's spin-bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya. He scored a 26-ball fifty against England in 2021 on his ODI debut.
Abbas makes it count amidst collapse
Muhammad hit his first boundary in the 44th over after Mark Chapman departed. As New Zealand lost three quick wickets, and struggled for runs in slog overs, Abbas went berserk in the penultimate over. He hit Naseem Shah for two sixes and a four. In the final over, he hit Mohammad Ali for a six. On the fourth ball of the over, he reached his fifty with a couple of runs. He lost his wicket off the final ball of the innings. His 26-ball 52 helped the Kiwis post 344/9 on the board.
"This is special. Can't describe the feeling now. Special to contribute and Chappy [Mark Chapman] was unbelievable. To get in there and show what I can do is special to me and my family I think. Yes they're sitting in the crowd. Quite special for them as well. Gary [Stead] told me go out there and do what you do best. That was the license I needed," the 21-year-old told the broadcasters in the innings break.
Abbas' maiden ODI wicket
Abbas did damage with the ball as well. He got the wicket of Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan to break the third-wicket partnership he shared with Babar Azam. The left-arm pacer conceded 43 runs from seven overs. New Zealand bowled out Pakistan for 271 and won the match by 73 runs.
Muhammad's father's career in numbers
His father Azhar has played 45 first-class games and taken 154 wickets at an average of 25.18, including six five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls. He has 23 wickets from 22 List A games and 10 wickets from seven T20s as well. His last appearance in professional cricket was for Auckland in a T20 game in 2009.
