Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas hopeful of Leicestershire return next season

The 29-year-old took 29 wickets in nine County Championship matches this season, adding to the 50 he took in 10 matches in 2018

Overseas star Mohammad Abbas is hoping to return to Leicestershire next season.

The Pakistan Test bowler is back in his home country after being recalled to begin preparation for a heavy schedule of international cricket, including Tests against Sri Lanka, Australia and Bangladesh.

But Abbas, who took 29 wickets in nine Specsavers County Championship matches this season, to add to 50 in ten taken last season, said he would very much like to spearhead the Foxes' seam attack again in 2020.

"I have really enjoyed my time at Leicestershire, the team and management have been very good with me," said the 29-year-old.

"This season hasn't been quite as good as last season, the weather hasn't been quite as good for swing and seam - and reverse swing - as it was last year.

"It has been a bit frustrating, because there have been a couple of drawn matches we came close to winning, which would have made a big difference. But I feel there is a lot of talent in the dressing room.

"I look at young Leicestershire players like Hassan Azad, he has a lot of ability and is very patient, he could go on and play international cricket.

"Pakistan have Test matches in England next year so although nothing has been confirmed, hopefully I will come back to Leicestershire. Let’s see what happens."

Pakistan are due to play three Tests in England in 2020, between July 30 and August 24. Leicestershire played only one championship match (at Durham) during that period this season, although next season's schedule has yet to be confirmed.

^{Mohammad Abbas is currently preparing for Pakistan's heavy schedule}

Cost will also be an issue. Abbas was relatively unknown, and therefore inexpensive, when he was signed and has since become one of the top performers in Test cricket.

As a result a new deal could cost substantially more at a time when Leicestershire chief executive Karen Rothery has already confirmed the club was set to make a loss this year. No overseas star was signed to boost the Foxes' 2019 T20 playing squad, when most other counties signed two.

In the circumstances, many will consider the Foxes did well to still be in the fight for a quarter-final slot with three of their 14 group games remaining.

Heavy defeats in their last two fixtures, at home to Notts and Derbyshire, mean they can no longer qualify, rendering tomorrow evening's match against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford a matter of pride rather than points.

Head coach Paul Nixon made no secret of his disappointment with the performance against Derbyshire on Sunday in particular, when the Foxes subsided from a promising 59 for 2 at the end of the six-over powerplay to just 124 all out, setting the Falcons a target they reached for the loss of only one wicket.

"I'll be gutted about that for a long time to come, because we'd done the hard bit and had we stuck to the game plan would have made a very competitive score," said Nixon.

"Players need to understand there are games in seasons which are crucial and make the difference - big, big games when you immerse yourself in your game plan, and that was one. We could have been going to Old Trafford with everything to play for."

Nixon said changes to the squad will be considered, though lack of numbers mean his options are limited.

"The result may be irrelevant in terms of qualification, but every game matters, it's a chance to achieve, impress, reach personal milestones and gain some momentum for the final month of the season," he said.

Courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network