Abbas gets candid about Mohammad Asif’s influence on him

Mohammad Abbas, Pakistan’s latest arsenal in its seemingly endless bowling pool, has revealed the role of senior bowler Mohammad Asif and his influence on the seamer.

Abbas played his Grade II cricket for Sialkot, where he shared a dressing room with Asif. “I played Grade II cricket for two years with Asif - we used to discuss things a lot, about how to bowl and where to bowl. I feel like I learnt bowling from him, revealed Abbas, quoted The Telegraph.

“People like him, Glenn McGrath, Shaun Pollock, James Anderson - they are my ideal bowlers. I like their lines and lengths,” he added.

Last week, Abbas outgunned England’s batsmen with high-quality seam bowling and finished the match with impressive figures of 8-64, allowing the mercurial Pakistan attain a comfortable Test win by nine wickets.

However, despite his performance Abbas expressed he was not entirely happy with his performance at Lord’s as he failed to get his name at the honours board at the historic stadium.

“Playing your first Test at the Home of Cricket — Lord’s — and being named the player of the match is one of the dreams that cricketers have. I have succeeded in achieving this honour and I am happy, but at the same time I am sad that I was not able to add my name in the list of bowlers taking five-wicket haul at this ground,” he said.