KARACHI: Pakistan’s newest pace sensation Mohammad Abbas who has recently joined national cricket team at the training camp for the upcoming Champions Trophy in Birmingham, says he is ready for the challenge in the 50-over format and feels confident of doing well in the ODIs due to his decent record in the country’s domestic circuit.

“In the last domestic season, I was the second highest wicket-taker. But unfortunately, our team could not reach the semifinals,” he told Dawn News from England.

“In all these years, I have not only worked hard in the longer format but also in the one-dayers. I have always dreamt about being a part of the national teams and God has fulfilled it with my induction in the Test series in the West Indies. Now I am getting ready for the next challenge, when I am called for the limited-overs matches,” he said.

The right-arm medium pacer performed outstandingly in the West Indies Tests, taking as many as fifteen wickets in the three-match series including a five-wicket haul.

“I was really excited when I got my Test cap,” recalled Abbas. “That was the first part of my dream and it was up to me to perform well and help my team win, which thankfully I was able to,” said Abbas who startled the world by capturing his first wicket on the second delivery of his international career. “Yes, that was a dream start. It was all because of the prayers of my parents and the hard work I did for so many years,” said the 27-year-old bowler.

“That ball and that wicket gave me the confidence I was lacking. The pressure of international cricket was released with that wicket and I ended up taking three wickets in the first Test.”

Abbas further added that when he went into the second Test much hungrier, ad was keen to get more wickets. “I was told that I have to take wickets and that is my role. And I am really glad that I was able to play my role well by taking four wickets in the first innings and two in the second to complete six wickets in the second match but unfortunately we lost that match,” he said.

With the experience of two Tests behind him, Abbas bowled with lot of confidence and variety in the Dominica game and picked up his first five-wicket haul. “The seniors in the team really helped me a lot and I performed to the best of my abilities,” he said.

The six wickets he took in Dominica Test went some way in earning Pakistan a fantastic victory and recording a historic series win. “That was the proudest moment of my life where I played a role team’s victory, they were unforgettable moments,” he said.

Talking about his last-wicket stand with captain Misbah-ul-Haq in the first Test, Abbas said: “I was the last man in and when I came in Misbah was on 68. I told him that I will try my best to stay on the crease and help the skipper complete his hundred,” Abbas told Dawn News.

“We had put up very valuable 34 runs but Misbah could not reach the three-figure mark I was scared that he may get angry at my dismissal but he gave me confidence and appreciated my efforts.”

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2017