Former Pakistani cricketer Azhar Abbas’s son, Mohammad Arsalan Abbas, made a sensational debut for New Zealand, smashing a rapid half-century against his country of birth.
Playing in Napier, Arsalan scored 52 runs off just 24 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. Batting in the middle order with a strike rate of 200, he helped New Zealand post a total of 344 runs.
The young batter was recently included in New Zealand’s squad based on his strong domestic performances.
New Zealand went on to defeat Pakistan by 73 runs in the first ODI, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
Azhar Abbas, who played 45 first-class matches, moved to New Zealand along with his family, where he continued his cricketing profession, playing for Auckland and Wellington. He’s now the assistant coach for the Firebirds.
Arslan Abbas, who can bat in the middle order and bowl, has been chosen for his versatility. New Zealand’s squad missed senior gamers like Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Glenn Phillips because of their commitments to the IPL in India.
Mark Chapman scored 132 and Daryl Mitchell 76 in a 199-run partnership as New Zealand made 344-9 and went on to beat Pakistan by 73 runs Saturday in the first one-day international.
Chapman posted his third one-day international century and rebuilt the innings with Mitchell after New Zealand had been three wickets down in the 13th over, struggling against bounce and swing from the Pakistan fast bowlers.
Muhammad Abbas, the first Pakistan-born player to play for New Zealand, made 50 from 24 balls — the fastest half century by a player on debut in one-day internationals.
Who is Muhamad Abbas – all you need to know
Born in November 2003, the left-arm seam bowler’s father Azhar Abbas was also a First-Class cricketer in Pakistan. Azhar turned up for sides like Peshawar and the Pakistan Railways before moving to New Zealand in mid-2000s and representing Wellington and Auckland in the final stages of his career. Azhar is currently the assistant coach of the Wellington Firebirds.
With a bevy of New Zealand’s all-rounders unavailable due to their IPL commitments, young Muhammad got his maiden call-up to the ODI side before slamming three fours and as many sixes on his debut. In 21 First-Class matches representing Wellington since his debut in 2023, Muhammad has scored over 1300 runs with a best of 130 besides picking up 12 wickets.