Hampshire tie down Mohammad Abbas to new two-year deal

Abbas, 32, has been a major part of the county's red-ball title push for the last two seasons, picking up 50 wickets in 2022 as Hampshire fell just short of Surrey

Hampshire have re-signed Mohammad Abbas for the next two summers, keeping the Pakistan seamer at the Ageas Bowl until at least the end of the 2024 season.

Abbas, 32, has been a major part of the county's red-ball title push for the last two seasons, picking up 50 wickets in 2022 as Hampshire fell just short of Surrey.

He has formed a potent partnership with South African Kyle Abbott and left-armer Keith Barker, with the experienced trio claiming 150 scalps between them in the County Championship campaign just gone.

"Mo has been a big influence on the team," said Giles White, Hampshire's director of cricket. "Since his arrival he has been both an incredible performer and a fantastic role model. To have him around for the next two years is a major boost to the squad."

In just his second match for the county, he took nine wickets against Middlesex and in 2021 picked up 41 wickets at 15.87 apiece.

^{Abbas has been an inspired overseas signing by Hampshire (Harry Trump/Getty Images)}

He was only marginally more expensive in 2022 – his 50 wickets coming at 17.62 apiece – in spearheading Hampshire's charge.

Abbas said: "I'm very pleased to have signed a new contract and to be staying with Hampshire for two more years.

"I've loved my time at The Ageas Bowl and am looking forward to helping the team push for silverware in the LV= Insurance County Championship."

Only nine bowlers took more wickets in England's domestic red-ball summer of 2022; for Hampshire, Abbott picked up 58 and Barker 52. Ironically, his last act of the summer was to be dismissed by Liam Norwell to save Warwickshire from relegation.

Related Topics

• Keith Barker signs two-year contract extension with Hampshire