Mohammad Abbas achieved an honourable place on the Lord’s honours boards with a five-wicket haul on August 30, 2026, leaving his mark at one of cricket’s most prestigious venues.

The 36-year-old created a historic moment with figures of 5-57 from 22 overs.

His achievement reflects a remarkable journey from working in leather factories and welding shops in Sialkot to performing on one of cricket’s most historic ground and create history by himself.

A Beginning Marked by Hardship and Passion

Mohammad Abbas was born on March 10, 1990, in Jathekey, a small village in Sialkot, Punjab. Raised in a middle-class family, Abbas took an unconventional route to professional cricket. He worked in a leather factory as a welder and helper in a law firm.

Abbas developed his skills through night-time tape-ball cricket and local tournaments. After years of hard work and earning his name in domestic cricket, he got his first opportunity against West Indies in 2017. He took a Test wicket on only the second ball of his first Test, dismissing Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck at Sabina Park.

Domestic Success 

He made his first-class debut in early 2009 for his regional side Sialkot. He played three games, taking only four wickets at an average of 32 in 2008-09. These initial performances were great. 

The turning point came in 2015-16. He was the top wicket-taker in the 2015-16 domestic first-class competition with 61 wickets in 10 matches at an impressive bowling average of 16.78 for Khan Research Laboratory.

This explosive performance caught the attention of national selectors. He drew the national selectors’ attention by again leading the wicket-taking charts in 2016-17, taking 71 wickets at a stunning average of 12.74.

International Debut and Early Impact: A Star is Born

Abbas made his Test debut on April 21, 2017, against the West Indies and finally an opportunity came for him, for what he had worked for his entire life.

The medium pacer has posted remarkable numbers since his Test debut. Abbas completed a five-wicket haul in Abu Dhabi, that played a key role in defeating Australia for 145. During the series he also picked up his 50th wicket in only his 10th Test, the joint second-fastest Pakistani to the mark. This was an extraordinary achievement. To reach 50 Test wickets in just ten matches placed Abbas among the elite bowlers of cricket history.


Mohammad Abbas Staggering Numbers
Since making his debut, Abbas numbers are staggering. In 32 Test matches, he has scalped 128 wickets at a bowling average of 22.25, with 8 five-wicket hauls.

In First-class cricket, his numbers are even more impressive: Abbas has taken 907 wickets in 222 First-class matches at an average of 20.39, with 58 five-wicket hauls and 14 ten-wicket match hauls. He is only few of those active players, who have more than 900- FC wickets to their names.

His career-best figures of 6/54, came against South Africa.

Record-Breaking Performance at Lord’s 

The second Test of the three-match series between England and Pakistan at Lord’s on 30 August 2026 became the stage for Abbas’s greatest achievement. Before this match, he had come close before with a trio of four-wicket hauls, including a return of 4-73 during England’s first-innings 290 in this match. 

On the fourth day of the Test, Abbas finally achieved his elusive five-wicket haul after dismissing Ollie Robinson and became the sixth Pakistan bowler to etch his name onto the Lord’s Honors Board.

The emotional impact of this achievement cannot be overstated as he received a standing ovation from the Lord’s crowd. He celebrated the achievement with a huge roar before going down on his knees and kissing the Lord’s ground.

Breaking Waqar Younis Record

With his achievement, the Sialkot-born pacer became the eighth Pakistani bowler to take a five wicket at Lord’s. His combined match tally of 9 wickets for 127 runs in 40.1 overs is the highest by any Pakistani pace bowler in a single Test at Lord’s, surpassing the previous best of 8 wickets for 154 runs in 49 overs set by Waqar Younis during the July 1996 Test at the same venue.

Pakistani Bowlers on Lord’s Honours Board

Mohammad Abbas joined Khan Mohammad, Mudassar Nazar, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah are the Pakistani bowlers to take a five-wicket haul in a Test at Lord’s. Each of these bowlers is a legend in Pakistani cricket, and Abbas has now joined their exclusive club of legend bowler of Pakistan

 Record Against Australia: A Defining Moment

While the Lord’s achievement is his most recent milestone, Abbas’s performance against Australia in 2018 remains one of his career highlights. Abbas’ average in the series for his 17 wickets is the best for any Pakistan bowler in a series with 15 or more wickets. The previous best was Asif’s 10.76 in Sri Lanka in 2006. Abbas’ average is also the best by any fast bowler in a series versus Australia in the last 100 years.

Abbas became the first fast bowler to take a ten-wicket haul in a UAE Test, and he was the first since Wasim Akram’s 11 for 160 at the MCG in 1990 to achieve such a win against Australia.

Struggles Challenges and Career Hiatus

Cricket, like life, is never a straight path to glory. Abbas has faced significant challenges during his career, including a shoulder injury that led to his omission from the national team in 2021. These setbacks could have stopped his career permanently. Many cricketers never recover from such injuries and omissions. But Abbas, the boy who once worked as a welder, refused to give up.

His ability to come back from injury and omission, to continue playing domestic cricket, and to eventually return to international cricket with performances at Lord’s at age 36, speaks volumes about his character, resilience, and love for the game.

County Cricket

With his time away from Pakistan team, Abbas continued to put his case with appearances in domestic and county cricket. He has been signed with the State Bank of Pakistan cricket team since 2023 and Derbyshire County Cricket Club since 2025. Playing county cricket provided Abbas with valuable experience against world-class bat and in varied English conditions. This exposure undoubtedly contributed to his mastery of conditions at Lord’s and other English grounds.

Mohammad Abbas Impact and Legacy

Abbas’s journey goes beyond cricket statistics. He represents hope for millions of young people from humble backgrounds, proving that talent, hard work, and belief.

His record-breaking Test career has given Pakistani fans hope, especially after seeing many promising fast bowlers fade away. Abbas’s consistency and longevity have shown that he can be different.

Mohammad Abbas’s name on the Lord’s honours board represents more than a cricketing achievement. It is a testament to determination and the power of believing in oneself. The boy from Jathekey who once worked as a welder to support his family has become an international cricketer and has joined the elite group of bowlers to take five wickets at the Home of Cricket.

His legacy is not only his wickets and records, but the inspiration he offers to young cricketers The Lord’s honours board now stands as a lasting reminder of the remarkable journey of Mohammad Abbas—from welder to international fast bowler.

READ: Mohammad Abbas enters elite club with 900 first-class wickets