Dharuba: Pakistan’s veteran fast bowler Mohammad Abbas surpassed the country’s legendary all-rounder Imran Khan following his double strike on the third day of the first Test against West Indies at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
Abbas, who took 3 for 63 in the first innings, made a blistering start to the second game as he sent back Brandon King (five) and Gavem Hodge (nil) in his third over.
The twin strike lowered Abbas’ bowling average to 22.78 in form, surpassing the previous best of 22.81 maintained by Pakistan’s World Cup-winning captain Khan during his glittering career with 362 wickets in 88 Tests.
Abbas, who made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2017, has now taken 115 wickets in his 30th match.
Best averages for Pakistan in Tests (minimum 100 wickets)
Mohammad Abbas – 115 wickets in 30 Tests at 22.78*
Imran Khan – 362 wickets in 88 Tests at an average of 22.81
Waqar Younis – 373 wickets in 87 Tests at 23.56
Notably, Abbas became the sixth Pakistani pacer to take 100 Test wickets, joining the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan, Mohammad Amir and Umar Gul.
Meanwhile, following Abbas’ double strike, fellow fast bowlers Mohammad Ali and Khurram Shahzad and all-rounder Amir Jamal scored a scalp each to help West Indies under pressure in the second innings as the home side slumped to 80/5, a 109-run lead.