No pace, no problem: Abbas dismantles Bangladesh with craft and discipline

Bangladesh would have known the threat of Pakistan's fast bowlers on a Dhaka pitch that looked green and did plenty. But did they probably wouldn't have expected Mohammad Abbas, who's playing his first Test since January 2025, to make such an impact. Abbas was on point, holding the conditions - seam movement, variable bounce, slight swing - to his advantage throughout his several spells to finish with a five-for at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

His accuracy preyed on an unsuspecting Najmul Hossain Shanto on the first day. Litton Das couldn't get him away in a morning duel where Abbas came out on top. Later, the tail didn't have an answer for his sharp bouncers. But here's the thing about Abbas that confounds many cricket fans. Abbas has appeared only in five Tests since 2021, having returned to the Test squad this time after missing the home series against West Indies and South Africa. The quicker bowlers get more attention, but Abbas' skills are often overlooked.

The build-up to this Dhaka Test was all about the fast bowlers, the likes of Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali, and here comes the slowest of them, Abbas, who has probably bowled the best so far. You would probably not expect Abbas to stand out among those names on such a pitch.

Abbas adjusted his lengths expertly to suit both the conditions and the batter at the crease. After being taken for a few boundaries by Shanto, he sensed a lapse in concentration immediately after the Bangladesh captain brought up his century. Abbas went fuller and shaped one back in sharply; Shanto failed to read the inswinger and was trapped lbw for 101.

Abbas' subtle variations in line and length then dismantled Bangladesh's middle order, as he ran through the middle order with the wickets of Litton and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Then came the surprise element. Abbas, not typically associated with steep pace or hostility, unleashed sharp bouncers to dismiss Taijul Islam and Ebadot Hossain. In doing so, he became only the fourth Pakistan fast bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in Bangladesh, joining Waqar Younis, Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali.

After Pakistan finished on 179 for 1 at stumps on the second day, opener Imam-ul-Haq explained how crucial Abbas' role was in conditions that needed discipline and accuracy.

"Everybody knows how good he (Abbas) is," Imam said. "It really helps when you play so much of domestic cricket, including county cricket. So obviously, we knew that the wicket will be like this and that's why Abbas comes to play and his role is very important for the team. It does not matter when you don't have that much pace, but when the conditions are there and when you know that there is going to be a lateral movement. So, Abbas bowled very well on both days. He broke the (third wicket) partnership which was going well. Today he took his five-wicket haul with under 100 runs. Abbas was very crucial."

Bangladesh's senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin said that their batters didn't handle him well on the second day. "He [Abbas] holds on to his line and length. He is consistent, which is his strength. He has been doing this for years. We handled him well on the first day, but I think he used the conditions very well today."

The curious part though is that since making his debut in 2017, Abbas has missed more Tests than he has played. This match is only his 28th appearance in the format, and apart from a couple of injury-enforced absences in 2018, he has largely remained available for selection, making his prolonged exclusion striking. This is first Test since January 2025, and between then and now he has taken 124 wickets at 18.28 in 28 first-class matches in the UK and Pakistan.

This has been the bigger story of Abbas' career. Since 2021, he has featured in just six Tests, even as Pakistan cycled through a long list of fast bowlers in search of answers which is probably due to their increased reliance on spin since late 2024. Yet, somehow, Abbas has become Pakistan's forgotten man perhaps because he lacks the high-end pace that often dominates selection conversations.

"He [Abbas] doesn't give you anything," Imam said. "I have played with him, I have played against him. When we plays county cricket, we find that it is difficult to face him, especially on a green track where he always asks you questions again and again. He is always hitting the length in the right areas.

"If you see, he couldn't get wickets in his first spell. But the way he came back and he was hitting the right areas. With the green grass (on the Dhaka pitch), I was sure that Abbas was going to play the vital role for us. That's his strength. He always asks you so many questions as a batsman, and that's lovely to see."

As for Abbas, this performance served as yet another reminder to Pakistan of the qualities that have long defined him. He bowled excellent lengths, stuck to it for long periods, and struck in crucial moments. All of it came without express pace but Abbas has never needed that to make an impact.

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