ABU DHABI – Pakistan paceman Mohammad Abbas insisted on Wednesday he isconfident his rapid success will not go to his head, saying a tough earlylife has helped him mature as a person.
The 28-year-old worked as a welder and a leather factory labourer inPakistan before his hard work in cricket paid dividends with a first-classdebut in 2009.
Abbas has been Pakistan s most successful bowler since making his Testdebut in the West Indies last year, taking 54 wickets in nine-and-a-halfgames.
Abbas sent Australia tumbling to 145 all out with figures of 5-33 onWednesday, helping Pakistan to a 137-run first-innings lead in the secondTest in Abu Dhabi.
By close on the second day Pakistan were 144-2 in their second innings,stretching the advantage to 281 runs with eight wickets intact as they bidto win the two-match series 1-0.
Abbas took seven wickets in the drawn first Test in Dubai last week.
But success is unlikely to go to his head, like it did to Mohammad Zahid,Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir — all three fast bowlers who shot to fameearly in their careers.
“Look, I have a firm belief in Almighty Allah and I pray that he keeps meaway from tough situations,” said Abbas. “I have played first-class cricketand a lot of things have happened before my eyes.”
Zahid shot to prominence with 11 wickets in his debut Test against NewZealand in 1996 but managed only four more matches after struggling with aback injury.
Asif and Amir were each banned for five years after their parts in thespot-fixing scandal on Pakistan s tour of England in 2010. Since completinghis ban, Amir has returned but struggled to make the most of his talent.
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“I suffered hardship in my life so my focus is on cricket and that has mademe mature. I want to keep my feet on ground, that has been my life and ithas matured me,” added Abbas.
“Right or wrong, I know where to go and my focus is to go step to step andwhatever happens around me doesn t bother me.”
When he claimed his 50th wicket in his 10th Test on Tuesday, Abbas becamethe joint-second fastest to achieve the feat from Pakistan alongside thelegendary Waqar Younis, Asif and Shabbir Ahmed.
Team-mate Yasir Shah is the fastest Pakistani to 50 wickets — in ninematches.
Abbas also has the fourth-best average (15.94) — and lowest this century– among those with 50 or more wickets.
England s George Lohmann (10.75), Australia s J.J. Ferris (12.70) and BillyBarnes of England (15.54) all played in the 19th century.
But Abbas said records are made to be broken.
“I focus on my bowling and taking wickets for Pakistan and in the processget records, which are made to be broken.” – APP/AFP
